SPOKANE, Wash. — The Firewise Communities Workshop is a free hands-on interactive educational event for anyone interested in how to reduce the risks to life and property to wildfire in the wildland/urban interface. That includes city and county officials, land planners, fire professionals, landowners and anyone involved in planning or protecting communities from fire.
The day-and-a-half workshop will be held on Thursday and Friday, May 19 and 20, at the Quality Inn and Suites, E. 8923 Madison Ave., in Spokane Valley. Thursday’s sessions will run from 9 am to 4:30 pm with lunch provided. Friday’s sessions will run from 8 am until noon.
The program is free of charge and open to the public. However, space is limited and advance registration is required. For out-of-town participants, the first 20 to register will receive free lodging at the Quality Inn and Suites.
Registration forms are available at local WSU Extension offices, the Spokane County Conservation District, and online by going to http://www.spokane-county.wsu.edu and clicking on the Forest and Wildlife Resources web page.
Participant will receive counsel from recognized experts, as well as resource materials and tools to help meet community wildfire protection and prevention goals. Topics covered will include how individuals and communities can reduce unnecessary wildfire losses, state Department of Natural Resources assistance programs for reducing fire hazards, and a computer-based interactive exercise on developing a mitigation plan for a fictional community facing a catastrophic wildfire.
WSU Spokane County Extension, the Spokane County Conservation District and the state Department of Natural Resources are sponsoring the workshop.
For questions or more information on the program contact SCCD Forester Garth Davis at 509-535-7274 or garth-davis@sccd.org