How Washington State pioneered an ‘all hands, all lands’ wildfire prevention strategy
In January 2025, wildfires driven by hurricane-force winds ripped through Los Angeles County. Over a frightening 48 hours, embers soared for miles, destroying thousands of homes and killing 29 people. Preliminary estimates named these fires as the costliest in American history.
The twin forces of hotter, drier summers and decades of blanket fire suppression and fuel accumulation have combined to create unprecedented fire danger in the Western United States. Many landscapes have become far more overgrown than ever before, multiplying the wildfire risks.
But in Washington, a strategic approach spearheaded by the Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, has focused on restoring forests to their historic balance, fostering community fire resilience, and upping firefighting resources. Launched in 2017, the state’s 20-year forest health strategic plan saves forests and homes while creating jobs and revenue along the way.
Fire, whether from lightning strikes or controlled burns by Indigenous cultures, is crucial to th... Read more
