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Historic fire seasons occurred between July and September, with the middle to end of August <br />being the period of the most extreme fire conditions. Cheat grass matures by July, while most <br />native species it replaces mature in late August. With cheat grass dominant, wildfires tend to <br />occur earlier in the season, when native perennials are more susceptible to injury by burning. <br />These fires are larger and more uniform, with fewer patches of unburned vegetation remaining <br />within burns. Cheat grass thrives in grounds that have been disturbed by activities such as <br />recreation or building. There are many areas within Kittitas County that have cheat grass <br />invading the landscape, in some cases creating ladder fuel adjacent to homes in the WUl. Cheat <br />grass is not recognized as a noxious weed in Kittitas County, however the flammability of the <br />annual invasive species poses a risk to homes and infrastructure. Other noxious weeds like <br />Scotch Broom and Gorse, although not present in Kittitas County but located in bordering <br />counties, create dense thickets of highly flammable, dry woody material escalating the intensity <br />of wildfire and increasing the risk and damage to nearby properties. <br />4.1.2 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, hottet 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 a comprehensive strategy, such as the one laid out <br />in Section 5. <br />Community Wildfire Protection Plan 30 September 2018