Chelan County has experienced extremely poor air quality during past wildfire seasons.

The conditions have frequently registered at hazardous levels by the Department of Ecology monitors in the region. The 2025 wildfire season could be very severe and a local presentation could provide valuable information later this month.

Our Valley Our Future coordinator Steve Maher says the wildfire symposium features a panel of experts who will discuss new research identifying which neighborhoods are most impacted by smoke and the outlook for the wildfire season.

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The tentative lineup of presenters include:

Paul Hessburg, senior research ecologist with the Pacific Northwest Research Station based at the Wenatchee Forestry Sciences Laboratory will explain the number of large, severe wildfires and what are the factors that can put people at risk, and destroy or severely damage communities, wildlife habitat and natural resources

Wenatchee Valley Fire Department Chief Brian Brett will explain the capabilities of local firefighting resources during wildfire response and former Washington Lands Commissioner Hillary Franz is the keynote speaker.

Washington state has 16 places, including the Wenatchee area, identified as communities overburdened by poor air quality.

University of Washington professor Elizabeth Walker will release her findings to the public for the first time on mapping where populations most impacted by wildfire smoke live, down to the neighborhood in Chelan and Douglas counties.

Dr. Bindu Nayak, co-medical director of health equity at Confluence Health in Wenatchee will talk about how children with pre-existing conditions are being impacted by wildfire smoke in NCW.

A panel discussion will cover how people and neighborhoods should prepare for wildfires, how they can access resources, and,what to do if evacuation or sheltering in place is necessary.

A series of Break-Out Groups will focus on wildfires and a more resilient future

OVOF Wildfire Symposium
OVOF Wildfire Symposium
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The Symposium sponsors include Thriving Together NCW, the Central Washington Area Health Education Center, Community for the Advancement of Family Education (CAFE), Catholic Charities, and Wenatchee Valley College. Partnering organizations include Cascadia Conservation District and the Chelan County PUD..

The symposium is June 25th, from 10am to 2pm at Wenatchee Valley College.

Maher says as of today, less than two dozen seats remain available for the free symposium.  Scan the QR code for a link to the reservation website

 

Our Valley, Our Future
Our Valley, Our Future
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