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3/1/2026 SUBMITTED VIA ONLINE COMMENT FORM <br /> AVAILABLE ON THE PROJECT WEBSITE <br /> (KittitasCounty2026.com) <br /> Comment #005 <br /> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 <br /> a. Set an explicit goal of achieving Firewise USA community recognition for the Easton area within two years. This is a structured <br /> national program administered by the National Fire Protection Association that provides a framework for community-level wildfire <br /> preparedness, and recognized communities may qualify for insurance premium reductions of 10-20%, a direct financial benefit <br /> to every homeowner in the area. <br /> b. Include specific federal grant programs in the recommended actions: USDA Community Wildfire Defense Grants <br /> ($250K—$10M for fuels reduction planning and treatment, annual cycle typically in spring); FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety <br /> Grants (up to$200K for Firewise community programs); FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants <br /> for hazard mitigation projects; and Washington DNR Forest Health Grants for fuels reduction and forest restoration. <br /> c. Add a Year 1 implementation action:coordinate with KFACC and Fire District 3 to conduct a Wildland-Urban Interface <br /> assessment specific to the Easton subarea, map defensible space needs for properties within and adjacent to the LAMIRDs, and <br /> submit a USDA Community Wildfire Defense Grant application by the next annual cycle. <br /> d. Add wildfire mitigation funding as a milestone in the implementation timeline (Section 7.6), targeting Firewise recognition by <br /> Year 2 and a federal fuels-reduction grant application by Year 1. <br /> The laws already exist. The limits are already on the books. The Easton Subarea Plan is our opportunity to make sure they are <br /> applied clearly and consistently so that the rural character of this community is protected for the long term. But protection alone is <br /> not enough.This plan must also give Easton's residents the tools they need to build a sustainable future, affordable housing they <br /> can actually live in, businesses that can actually operate,wastewater infrastructure that unlocks both, and wildfire protections <br /> funded by the federal and state programs that exist for exact. <br /> Gina Peckman <br /> Gina@peckmansearch.com <br />