Cle Elum community to receive Washington’s 100th Firewise Communities/USA® Award, May 10
Media invited to see community’s defensible space created after Taylor Bridge Fire

OLYMPIA – Residents of a Cle Elum neighborhood will display wildfire prevention techniques they put in place to protect their homes and property from future wildfires at a special event on May 10. The Hidden Valley Meadows/Vista Community in Kittitas County was evacuated, but spared from, last year’s destructive Taylor Bridge Fire.

The community also became the 100th in Washington State to earn national recognition from the Firewise Communities/USA® Program for reducing wildfire threats to homes and other structures.

Learn firsthand what community members are doing to protect themselves from future wildfires.

Who:

 

 Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark and representatives from the Washington Conservation Commission, Hidden Valley Meadows/Vista Community, Kittitas County Fire District #7, Kittitas County Commissioners, Kittitas County Conservation District, and Skagit Conservation District
 What: Washington’s 100th Firewise Community
 When: May 10 – 10 a.m.
 Where: The home of John and Carolyn Berglund, 140 Leo Lane, Cle Elum, WA  98922
 Why: The Hidden Valley Meadows/Vista Community used Firewise principles to reduce wildfire risks following the Taylor Bridge Fire that came within a mile of the neighborhood.

 
Directions and web link:
From Seattle: Take exit 85 off of I-90. Drive east on SR 970 to Hidden Valley Road, 8 miles east of Cle Elum. Turn right on Hidden Valley Road and follow 1/2 mile to Leo Lane. Turn left. 140 Leo Lane is the first house on the right.

From Ellensburg, go north on US 97 18 miles until US 97 comes to a complete stop. Turn left onto SR 970 (towards Cle Elum) and travel 2.2 miles, turn left on Hidden Valley Road and follow the directions above.

Download directions to the event:
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/rp_fire_100th_firewise_event_map.pdf  

Media Contact: Janet Pearce, Communications Manager, 360-902-1122, janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov  

Source: DNR

Republished: 5/9/13 2255 Hours PST