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Historic fire seasons occurred between July and September, with the middle to end of August being <br />the period of the most extreme fire conditions. Cheat grass matures by July, while most native <br />species it replaces mature in late August. With cheat grass dominant, wildfires tend to occur earlier in <br />the season, when native perennials are more susceptible to injury by burning. These fires are larger <br />and more uniform, with fewer patches of unburned vegetation remaining within burns. Cheat grass <br />thrives in grounds that have been disturbed by activities such as recreation or building. There are <br />many areas within Kittitas County that have cheat grass invading the landscape, in some cases <br />creating ladder fuel adjacent to homes in the WUI. Cheat grass is not recognized as a noxious weed <br />in Kittitas County, however the flammability of the annual invasive species poses a risk to homes and <br />infrastructure. Other noxious weeds like Scotch Broom and Gorse, although not present in Kittitas <br />County but located in bordering counties, create dense thickets of highly flammable, dry woody <br />material escalating the intensity of wildfire and increasing the risk and damage to nearby properties. <br />4. T.2 Change in Fire Regimes in Kittitas County <br />Changes in climate patterns, land management strategies and other factors have contributed to <br />changes in vegetation and forest structure. Fire frequency and severity has responded to these <br />changes. Historical fire regimes ranged from over 900 years to as frequent as every 20 years or so. <br />Generally, the changes in the fire regime trend toward larger, hotter, and less frequent fires in much <br />of the county. Fire suppression, timber management, and the buildup of fuels in the forest have had <br />a combined effect that can only be mitigated with comprehensive strategy, such as the one laid out <br />in Section 5. <br />Community Wildfire Protection Plan 29 September 2018 <br />