 Chief Teran
July/August 2010It looks like summer has finally made it to Western Washington! As the temperature starts to rise, so too does the fire danger. Every year, we see a number of brush fires occur on Bainbridge Island. Fortunately, we are able to suppress many of them before they become serious. Many people do not realize that Western Washington is prone to significant wildfires. In fact, one study ranks Kitsap County as having the seventh highest existing risk of catastrophic losses in the event of a major wildfire in all of Washington. High fuel loads, warm temperatures, and a mix of development and forested areas can create a potentially dangerous scenario. The Bainbridge Island Fire Department has recognized this potential threat and has had a draft completed of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). This CWPP includes a hazard assessment of Bainbridge Island, as well as several recommendations for reducing the threat of catastrophic losses in the event of a significant wildfire. We are currently soliciting comments on the draft of the CWPP. Please see the affiliated notice on www.bifd.org. We are confident that the CWPP, when adopted, will help to guide us in making Bainbridge Island a safer community. Please be safe this summer! Hank Teran, Fire Chief
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