Sunland Wildfire Petition

Fire is an increasing risk. The last 2 years have had record wild fires in WA state. One fire burned within just miles of Sunland. Please allow us to protect our homes with a natural barrier of irrigation. Thank you for your consideration.

I am concerned about fire - with our winds that occur in Sunland - who will be liable if our houses burn down?

Please save our irrigated green spaces in Sunland, for fire protection in an extremely fire-prone area and for recreation to drive tourism dollars to Grant County.

Given the recent and future extreme fire danger. Removing any fire barrier/buffer is ridiculous.

I was present one Fourth of July not too long ago when the fire started in the brushy natural area near the park in Sunland. It took over 100 volunteers to be on that fire immediately to be able to get that out and there was no wind that night. If a fire starts man-made or natural, and everything along the river that is green and short is gone, and we don't have a lot of volunteers present, how will we protect all of our homes from fire devastation? Please consider leaving the shoreline grassy areas the same as they are now or at least giving us a portion of that, to help protect our homes. That canyon is the windiest area and should a fire start when the winds are present, I fear the fire wood go quickly through all of the natural brushy area and get to our houses.

Grant County PUD The grass surrounding our homes is essential for potential fire suppression. There is already plenty of habitat for rabbits, coyotes and other native species. We see them regularly in the neighborhood.

The recent fire season has demonstrated the serious risk fires pose to communities such as Sunland Estates. I urge you to work with Sunland Estate residents to ensure that their properties are protected by an effective fire buffer.

Thank you for your concern.

I think the existing Fire break at Sunland Estates is very important, because people from the concerts & camp grounds at the Gorge Amphitheater come and use the waterfront area to cool down from the hot sun, before concert time. I have cleaned up lots of broken glass & cigarette butts at the waters edge from visitors. Please consider this.

How many NEW people per year would use this public land? How many $'s per person will that be? Seems to me this is a huge waste of funds.

Considering recent fire activity, & heightened fire risks resulting from climate change & more frequent, intense droughts, it's rational & logical that existing barriers be retained to protect life & property; as well as Grant County's tax base.

I believe the importance of a fire break in the Sunland area is extremely important due to the excessive fire activity that has grown more prevalent over the last few years.

100% agree with this petition. Please please consider this!

Please allow my friends a fighting chance to protect their homes.

they are taking out lawns that have been there since the early 80's. our watering of these lawns has caused trees to grow, eagles to make their homes in these trees and an abundance of wildlife that was not there in the 70's. We know, our family has been there since then. that is in addition to removing the fire buffer our lawns provide, (on our dime) to protect our homes from the very real threat of fire. All of this has come to pass on the home owners dollar, not the public. now the public will pay to have our lawns poisoned with roundup and then plants (with no water) will be put in place. On the test lots, all the plants have died. so, more tax payers money for the labor for this fiasco too. only to have nothing but dead plants and lots and lots of sand. the trees will die, the eagles will leave. such a shame.

with all the recent fires, we really need to think ahead to protecting the homes and the wildlife that are in Sunland. I am very opposed to GPUD using toxic products to kill existing grass to put in plants that will endanger our homes and push out the wildlife that has now been such a joy to see. Why would you spend our tax dollars to put our homes in danger??

Doesn't make sense to spend money on killing green land to put in different plants that burn longer.

Fire Break Please !!!!

As Sunland residents we are in favor of proactive actions to reduce wildfire risk in our community. We oppose use of public resources and funds (by Grant PUD) to kill an existing green buffer that will ultimately result in increased fire danger for our community.

We should all be fearful of the increasing danger of wild fires in the Sunland area caused by removing any existing fire buffer. Also, it is important to note that homeowners’ insurance may increases when adding fire danger by removing fire safety buffers. By this, the public health and safety dose not need any additional stress and fear of fire by losing any of the communities fire protective buffer or the additional insurance expense caused by such action. Please consider, and primarily, any action to reducing public safety carries a life safety question. Wayne Weed