When your dreams go up in smoke. Wildfires in Washington 2015
Well it seems the world is on fire again in Washington State. This years fires now eclipsed last year’s fire as the largest in state history. Nothing like making history two years in a row.
I was returning from a commercial inspection in the Okanogan on the day (8/14) when these recent fires started (from lightning). From that day to now the fires have grown and have now reached that milestone of being the largest in state history. The Okanogan County fires have burned 256,567 acres and is still growing, that is more acres than what burned in the Carlton Complex Fires.
Okanogan Fires
Here is a couple of photo of the fires before they became so widespread
Photo from the day it started - Above is “A” on map below
Photo from the day it started - Above is “B” on map below
Map of area north and east of Lake Chelan
Now the story turns as I talked to a client I performed a home inspection for just recently in the Okanogan in an area affected by these recent fires. I was informed by my clients that the home I inspected has burned to the ground. This to me is so sad the client seemed to have their dreams just go up in smoke.
And now for lucky me, our home in Wenatchee almost become a victim of the Sleepy Hollow fire but was saved by some heroic neighbors. Yet I am not out of the woods. I have property in the Okanogan that happens to be right in the middle of one of the areas that is burning in what is called the Tunk Valley Unit. It will be very interesting to see what happens to my cabin and forest land.
Arrow is where my cabin is located.
I have acreage that I have that is designated forest and have logged it twice to thin out the trees and I am hoping this work will pay off in saving some of this land and maybe my cabin.
Homes in areas of potential wildfires need to take some precautions to minimize the potential exposure. Removing and/or minimizing vegetation and other combustible materials by the home is recommended. Where space allows creating a defensible area for the home in the case of a wildfire.
I recommend reading the links below on ideas to help create a safer environment in regards to wildfires.
Links-
https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/13256
http://www.readyforwildfire.org/
http://www.firewise.org/wildfire-preparedness.aspx
To all who are having to deal with these types of disaster my thoughts are with you and be safe.
“Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you’re going to be right.”
Muhammad Ali
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service
Instructor- Fundamentals of Home Inspection- Bellingham Technical College
www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572
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