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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan
<br />Kittitas County, Washington
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<br />Chapter 4: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 193
<br />monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides), and toxics (e.g., formaldehyde, benzene).250F
<br />250 Emissions from
<br />wildfires depend on the type of fuel, the moisture content of the fuel, the efficiency (or temperature) of
<br />combustion, and the weather. Public health impacts associated with wildfire include difficulty in breathing,
<br />odor, and reduction in visibility.
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<br />Property Damage and Critical Facilities: When a wildfire is in the immediate vicinity, it can cause
<br />severe damage to all property and infrastructure along its path. The critical infrastructure sector (e.g.,
<br />transportation, communications, power and gas services, and water supply) can be disrupted or damaged
<br />as a result of wildfires. Electrical systems can be destroyed or forced to shut down in order to prevent
<br />further damage. Emergency services can become severely overwhelmed during a wildfire event
<br />impacting response times and overall effectiveness. For example, law enforcement is called for traffic
<br />and evacuation assistance, paramedics are required for impacted communities and shelters, and
<br />hospitals are at risk of evacuation or could become overwhelmed due to the heightened needs of
<br />services.251F
<br />251 Additionally, wildfires can create conditions that block or prevent access and can isolate
<br />residents and emergency service providers. Loss of power as a result of a wildfire poses a unique risk to
<br />the irrigation infrastructure. This includes telemetry and automated gate systems, and canal overtopping
<br />and potential breaches could occur which can result in flooding.
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<br />Economy: Wildfires can have broad economic effects on communities, including disruptions to tourism,
<br />agriculture, and other industries. Smoke can significantly impact crops and harmful composite of
<br />minerals/metals can reduce the ability to absorb sunlight, can negatively impact soil compositions, or
<br />directly damage crops. Additionally, wildfires can deposit smoke/soot along the higher elevations which
<br />result in a reduction of critical snowpack development in the next winter season. Kittitas County’s
<br />economy heavily relies on winter tourism (e.g., skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling) and a decrease in
<br />snowpack can significantly affect this part of the economy. Additionally, direct loss of irrigation
<br />infrastructure can impact operations by causing disruption of service and impacts to the economy.
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<br />Changes in Development and Impact of Future Development: Changes in development have
<br />minimally increased (4% or less) the vulnerability of Kittitas County to wildfire and wildfire smoke. Future
<br />development may slightly increase (between 5% and 9%) the impact of wildfire and wildfire smoke within
<br />Kittitas County.
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<br />Underserved and At Risk Population: The underserved and at risk population face unique
<br />vulnerabilities and impacts as a result of wildfire. These groups include, but are not limited to, low-income
<br />families, elderly, individuals with disabilities, those with limited English proficiency, and those without
<br />adequate access to emergency resources or transportation. These groups may not have access to
<br />accurate and timely information due to limited internet access, language barriers, and living in isolated
<br />areas. Therefore, critical wildfire advisories may not reach these groups in a timely manner which results
<br />in higher injury and mortality rates within these communities. Additionally, in the event of an evacuation
<br />order, those without access to transportation may be unable to evacuate.
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<br />Although everyone within Kittitas County is vulnerable to wildfire smoke, the elderly, children, individuals
<br />with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease, outdoor workers, and pregnant women are
<br />uniquely vulnerable. This group is at a higher risk of the health effects attributed to wildfire smoke
<br />exposure. Short term exposure (i.e., over a few days) can cause irritation to the eyes and respiratory
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<br />250 United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Why Wildfire Smoke is a Health Concern. Retrieved
<br />from https://www.epa.gov/wildfire-smoke-course/why-wildfire-smoke-health-concern.
<br />251 Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency. (n.d.). Critical Infrastructure Sectors. Retrieved from
<br />https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/extreme-weather-and-climate-
<br />change/wildfires.
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