Recently, The Ember Alliance‘s Resilient Communities and Ecosystems department helped Chelan County, located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountain range in central Washington, to update their Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
Wildfires occur every year in Chelan County, making programs and projects that mitigate their impacts crucial for protecting residents, property, infrastructure, and the local economy. Successful CWPPs rely on strong community engagement, committed partners, and dedicated follow-through. TEA worked alongside Perteet as they updated the County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, aligning the two plans.
“The update to the Community Wildfire Protection Plan comes at a time when our community is experiencing increased wildfires – and an increase in those impacts from wildfires,” said Elle Robinson, Senior Natural Resource Specialist with Chelan County Natural Resources, “The plan outlines the county’s vulnerabilities to wildfire hazards and details various strategies and actions designed to reduce wildfire risk. The plan’s proactive mitigation efforts can help the county become more resilient, protecting lives and property while promoting long-term sustainability.”
The county was divided into nine zones, each with a collection of action items targeted at reducing hazardous fuels, the number of human-caused fires, and the impact of wildland fires. The project webpage features a StoryMap that provides in-depth maps and information on natural hazards within Chelan County, along with a hazard mapper tool that allows users to explore specific risk areas.
The final plan was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in late March of 2025.
