KittitasCountyCWPP_September2022_Amendment-combined

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Community Wildfire Protection Plan 30 September 2018 Historic fire seasons occurred between July and September, with the middle to end of August being the period of the most extreme fire conditions. Cheat grass matures by July, while most native species it replaces mature in late August. With cheat grass dominant, wildfires tend to occur earlier in the season, when native perennials are more susceptible to injury by burning. These fires are larger and more uniform, with fewer patches of unburned vegetation remaining within burns. Cheat grass thrives in grounds that have been disturbed by activities such as recreation or building. There are many areas within Kittitas County that have cheat grass invading the landscape, in some cases creating ladder fuel adjacent to homes in the WUI. Cheat grass is not recognized as a noxious weed in Kittitas County, however the flammability of the annual invasive species poses a risk to homes and infrastructure. Other noxious weeds like Scotch Broom and Gorse, although not present in Kittitas County but located in bordering counties, create dense thickets of highly flammable, dry woody material escalating the intensity of wildfire and increasing the risk and damage to nearby properties. 4.1.2 Change in Fire Regimes in Kittitas County Changes in climate patterns, land management strategies and other factors have contributed to changes in vegetation and forest structure. Fire frequency and severity has responded to these changes. Historical fire regimes ranged from over 900 years to as frequent as every 20 years or so. Generally, the changes in the fire regime trend toward larger, hotter, and less frequent fires in much of the county. Fire suppression, timber management, and the buildup of fuels in the forest have had a combined effect that can only be mitigated with a comprehensive strategy, such as the one laid out in Section 5.