Wildfire preparedness events, services available to upper valley communities this spring

LAKE WENATCHEE — Several events and services are being offered this spring to help residents better prepare their properties for the wildfire season.

Winton MFG Compost Works will be accepting yard waste drop-offs for free on May 16 and June 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community members can bring their pine needles, brush and limbs to the composting facility, located at 17400 Winton Road near Coles Corner. 

On May 19, Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue will host a presentation on wildfire and home insurance at Plain Community Church. The event will feature guest speaker David Forte, a Senior Property and Casualty Policy Advisor with the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. The short presentation, followed by a Q&A, will address wildfire risk, home insurance, and insurance companies dropping home owners due to wildfire risk. The community meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 12565 Chapel Drive.

Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue, in partnership with Cascadia Conservation District and the Nature Conservancy, is hosting a women’s chainsaw course on June 12 and 13. The course will cover saw basics, start-up procedures, field skills, care and storage. Organizers recommend bringing your personal chainsaw to troubleshoot its quirks and master its settings. Participants should wear sturdy leather boots and a long-sleeve shirt and pants. The course can have up to 8 participants. Those interested can contact Kris King at kking@lwfr.org.

Both Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue and Chelan County Fire District #3 are currently offering free chipping services for residents in their respective communities. Plain and Lake Wenatchee residents can sign up through June 1 at lwfr.org/chipping-program. This chipping program is supported by grant funding, and will be the only round of free chipping for the entire district likely to be offered this year, according to Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue. Chelan County Fire District #3 is offering chipping services to its residents through June 5. Those wanting to get on the list can reach out to info@chelanfd3.org.