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Reducing wildfire risk in King County

Learn about King County's work to reduce wildfire risk and prevent health impacts from wildfire smoke.

King County agencies are actively working with state and local governments, first responders, community partners, and residents to increase the resilience of King County forests and reduce the risks of wildfire and wildfire smoke in King County. This includes work on forest health, community wildfire planning, emergency response coordination, and wildfire smoke safety. This page provides an overview of these activities and links for more information.

Stewarding Forests and Natural Lands

Restoring forest health to reduce wildfire risk and support climate resilience 

forest

Healthy forests and natural lands are better able to withstand wildfires, support biodiversity, and provide long-term benefits for communities and the environment. King County is working to increase the resilience of County owned and managed forests and natural areas through forest restoration, forest management, and removal of noxious weeds. The County is also supporting healthy forests on private forest lands by providing technical assistance on forest stewardship practices to small forest landowners. Learn more:

Wildfire Planning and Response

Helping individuals, neighborhoods, and jurisdictions prepare for wildfires and respond safely

photo of wildland urban interface from overhead

Preparing for and responding effectively to wildfire is essential to protecting lives, homes, and infrastructure, especially in areas with higher vulnerability to wildfire like the wildland-urban interface (WUI). King County works with local governments, community partners, and residents to assess wildfire risks, support wildfire preparedness planning, and support mitigation projects such as home hardening, vegetation management within the home ignition zone, and the importance of defensible space. The County also helps households and communities stay safe through multilingual emergency alerts, evacuation readiness programs, and wildfire safety guidance. To possibly prevent the occurrence of a wildfire event, the King County Fire Marshal will establish a fire safety burn ban when weather conditions pose a high risk of a controlled burn to become uncontrolled. Finally, the King County Office of Emergency Management leads response coordination during wildfire emergencies and incidents and plays a central role in recovery planning. Learn more:

Reducing Health Risks from Wildfire Smoke

Helping residents manage the public health risks of wildfire smoke events

wildfire smoke

Wildfire smoke can pose serious health risks, especially for children, older adults, and people with existing medical conditions. Public Health—Seattle & King County works with regional partners to share timely information and public health recommendations and coordinate response efforts during smoke events. Residents can access current air quality data, public health guidance, and recommendations to stay safe and reduce exposure. Strategic frameworks help guide regional preparedness and protect the most affected communities. Learn more:

News and Updates

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