Resolution_2025 Kittitas County Hazard Mitigation Plan

Home Browse Search

2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan Kittitas County, Washington Chapter 4: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 190 Daily AQI Color Levels of Concern Values of Index Description of Air Quality Orange Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 101 to 150 Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected. Red Unhealthy 151 to 200 Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Purple Very Unhealthy 201 to 300 Health alert. The risk of health effects is increased for everyone. Maroon Hazardous 301 or higher Health warning of emergency conditions. Everyone is more likely to be affected. EPA establishes an AQI for five (5) major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act. Each of these pollutants has a natio nal air quality standard set by EPA to protect public health - ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. When weather conditions are conducive to wildfire ignition, the NWS local Forecast Office issues a series of advisories. Table 4-141 outlines the fire advisories issued by NWS as conditions warrant.244F 244 Table 4-141. NWS Fire Advisories Type Definition Fire Weather Watch Issued to alert land managers and the public that upcoming weather conditions (e.g., combination of strong winds and low humidity, dry and unstable air mass, and/or lightning) could result in extensive wildland fire occurrence or extreme fire behavior. It is issued when critical fire weather conditions are possible but not imminent or occurring. Red Flag Warning Issued by NWS, in conjunction with land management agencies, to alert land managers to an ongoing or imminent critical fire weather pattern (e.g., combination of strong winds and low humidity, dry and unstable air mass, and/or lightning). It is issued when fire conditions are ongoing or expected to occur shortly. Extreme Fire Behavior Issued when a wildfire is likely to run out of control. It is often hard to predict because fires tend to behave erratically and sometimes dangerously. To issue this alert, one (1) or more of the following criteria must be met – moving fast (i.e., high rate of spread), prolific crowning and/or spotting, presence of fire whirls, and/or strong convection column. 4.6.9.4. Probability and Frequency The probability of occurrence for a wildfire in Kittitas County is high because significant occurrences of this hazard occur annually throughout the County. Additionally, the probability of occurrence for wildfire smoke in Kittitas County is also high, even if the wildfire is occurring outside of the planning area. Kittitas County has, on average, a greater probability of wildfire burning in any given year than 100% of the counties in the United States. Refer to Figure 4-23 for the wildfire likelihood within Kittitas County.245F 245 According to the 2023 Washington State Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan, the probability of future wildfire related disaster declarations each year is 70% in the State. Since 1970, the frequency of wildfires and number of acres burned has increased significantly in the State of Washington. Wildfires are expected to continue their increase in extent, intensity, and frequency for the entire State, with large fires becoming more likely in central and eastern Washington. Wildfire season is projected to increase in 244 National Weather Service. (n.d.). Understanding Wildfire Warnings, Watches and Behavior. Retrieved from https://www.weather.gov/safety/wildfire-ww. 245 Wildfire Risk to Communities. (n.d.). Kittitas County: Wildfire Likelihood. Retrieved from https://wildfirerisk.org/explore/wildfire-likelihood/53/53037/.