PORT ANGELES — It’s part of what attracts people to the North Olympic Peninsula:
Live in the woods, among the trees, but close enough to catch a movie in town.
But as officials from Clallam County and Port Angeles heard Wednesday, it is that phenomenon of plotting houses in what could be prime wildfire areas that has fire service officials concerned.
Narrow, steep, dirt roads, wood shingles on the roof, trees and bushes close to the house, all can spell danger.
And although Clallam County has avoided any catastrophic fires this year, fire officials agreed that the dry season is not over.
“We’re still not out of the woods yet,” said Charlie Cortelyou, Olympic Region manager for the state Department of Natural Resources.
Acting before disaster
With that in mind, local and state fire officials planned a field trip for policy-makers, showing them the “urban/wildland interface” areas that have complicated fire fighting.
Port Angeles Fire Chief Dan McKeen, who also heads the county’s fire chief association, said the purpose was to raise awareness before disaster strikes.
He noted building codes and fire codes have often been implemented after the damage has been done.
“Almost every code happens in response to a disaster,” said McKeen.
Fire District No. 3 Chief Al Knobbs, whose district includes Sequim and surrounding areas, said the dry weather and rampant wildland fires across the state have provided a “teachable moment.”
“No one’s interested in fire during the winter,” Knobbs said.
Politically, a set of requirements for people living in the woodsy outback near Port Angeles and Sequim, may be tricky, McKeen said.
Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger, said that making people who live among the trees aware of what they can do to help firefighters in case of a fire can go a long way.
“I think there’s a huge education component we need to look at,” Tharinger said.
Any code would likely only apply to new houses.
But with more development and building, McKeen said that areas that are now wildland could become housing developments in the near future.