Large wildfires across the Pacific Northwest, along with rising concerns about local climate change impacts, have increased awareness that King County communities need to be better prepared for wildfire. This need was reinforced in fall 2022 when King County experienced two wildfires within a matter of weeks—the Bolt Creek fire near Skykomish (14,766 acres) and the Loch Katrine fire near North Bend (2,000 acres).
Climate change increases the potential for fires like the Bolt Creek and Loch Katrine fires. Much larger fires are also possible. While each fire is unique in its location, behavior, and impacts, these fires—along with wildland-urban interface fires in other regions, such as the January 2025 fires in Los Angeles—offer valuable insights into how King County can better prepare for growing wildfire risks.
What's at stake
Higher seasonal temperatures, lower mountain snowpack, and drier summers result in drier fuels (e.g., grasses, shrubs, trees) and a longer fire season, increasing the potential for wildfire. Research shows that area burned by wildfire in Western Washington could increase by +150 to +1,000 percent by the 2080s (relative to 1971–2000) under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario.27 As conditions become more favorable for wildfire in Western Washington, the odds that a smaller fire becomes a large fire that cannot be quickly contained increases, particularly if a fire occurs in late summer (when conditions are typically driest) with strong winds from Eastern Washington.
Population growth in King County and development in the wildland-urban interface also increase wildfire potential and risk. The county’s wildland-urban interface, mapped by the Washington Department of Natural Resources in 2021, is home to more than 350,000 residents and over 2,000 commercial and industrial buildings. As population grows, the likelihood of more ignitions from human causes grows—about 85 percent of wildfires in Washington are started by people.28 Fire suppression efforts may also become more complicated with increased development in the wildland-urban interface.
A better outcome
King County envisions a future where forests are managed to increase wildfire resilience in ways that are appropriate to Western Washington’s ecology. Risks to residents, neighborhoods, and communities in the wildland-urban interface are lower due to collaboration and proactive investments in wildfire mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Residents have equitable access to information, programs, and resources to reduce risk and stay safe in the event of a fire. First responders have the capacity and resources needed to respond quickly, effectively, and safely to wildfires.
What we've done to get here
- Worked with regional partners to develop the King County Wildfire Risk Reduction Strategy (2022), a first-ever strategic framework for cross-jurisdictional and cross-organizational work on wildfire risk reduction in King County.
- Launched the “Ready, Set, Go!” wildfire evacuation messaging campaign (2023) in collaboration with nine counties, including Snohomish, Pierce, and Thurston counties.
- Increased technical assistance to landowners and ensured that stewardship plans address wildfire risk.
- Initiated development of countywide Community Wildfire Protection Plan (2024) in collaboration with King County wildland-urban interface communities, first responders, and wildfire risk reduction experts.