Wildfire Safety and Mitigation
Wildfire is a natural part of the Pacific Northwest landscape, but climate change has made them more unpredictable. The City is working with Eastside Fire & Rescue (EFR) to keep residents safe, and you can play a vital role. Check out the local resources listed on the right to help make your home fire-resilient.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Homeowners can protect their homes by clearing out materials that can fuel fires from around structures.
EFR advises that you START WITH THE HOUSE ITSELF then move into landscaping.
- Move any flammable material away from wall exteriors – mulch, flammable plants, leaves and needles, firewood piles – anything that can burn. Remove anything stored underneath decks or porches.
- Clean roofs and gutters of dead leaves, debris and pine needles that could catch embers.
- Replace or repair any loose or missing shingles or roof tiles to prevent ember penetration.
- Reduce embers that could pass through vents in the eaves by installing 1/8 inch metal mesh screening.
- Clean debris from exterior attic vents and install 1/8 inch metal mesh screening to reduce embers.
- Repair or replace damaged or loose window screens and any broken windows screen or box-in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.
More information is on the EFR Wildfire Readiness webpage.
To help residents effectively reduce their home and structures’ ignition potential before a wildfire, the Wildfire Safe Eastside – Home Assessment Program is available to you. Please see the Wildfire Safe Eastside request form.
TREE MANAGEMENT
Even within areas identified as Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), the tree regulations of the Sammamish Municipal Code still apply. Please see the Tree Management webpage for more information regarding tree removals.
WUI MAP
Parts of the City of Sammamish are located within the WUI, but the WUI is only one component to assessing risk and should not be considered the sole measure of wildfire risk. The WUI is where additional protective actions benefit those living in these areas by creating defensible space around their dwelling.