Community Gathers for Wildfire & Forestry Safety Fair

Community members gathered Saturday, May 16, at Deer Park Fire Station 41 and Perrins Field for the Wildfire & Forestry Safety Fair, an event focused on wildfire prevention, preparedness, and outdoor safe- ty education. Hosted by the Spokane County Wild- fire Mitigation Coalition and sponsored in part by Avista, the fair brought together local agencies, fire personnel, forestry experts, and families for a day of hands-on learning and community engagement ahead of the upcoming wildfire season. Attendees had the opportunity to visit educational booths, watch live demonstrations, participate in family activities, and receive safety information and giveaways designed to help residents better prepare their homes and properties for wildfire risks. Smokey Bear was also in attendance, joining children and families for games and photos throughout the day. Educational presentations focused on topics such as home hardening, defensible space, vegetation management, and emergency preparedness. Representatives from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Avista, local fire districts, and other organizations shared information about reducing fire hazards around homes by clearing dry grass, pine needles, and brush, while also discussing the im- portance of community-wide wildfire mitigation ef- forts. Jessica Walston, co-chair of the Spokane Coun- ty Wildfire Mitigation Coalition, said the event was designed to help residents better understand the coalition’s mission and the importance of collaboration among agencies working to reduce wildfire danger across the region. “Our goal is to spread awareness about the Coalition and help reduce wildfire risk in an all-agency approach where we’re working collaboratively to really try and manage the wildfire risk in Spokane County,” Walston said.