Cat Robinson, wildfire mitigation and emergency coordinator for Eastside Fire & Rescue (EFR), shares information about wildfire preparedness during our Community Safety Meeting on Thursday, May 16, at Blakely Hall.
Staff and representatives from Eastside Fire & Rescue, Issaquah Police Department and the City of Issaquah visited Blakely Hall last week to discuss wildfire threats and crime trends in Issaquah Highlands.
EMERGENCY HAZARDS
Jared Schneider, emergency manager for the city, highlighted wildfires as one of the largest hazards for residents in Issaquah, followed by earthquakes, volcanos, landslides, seasonal flooding and severe weather. He adds that all hills carry some level of landslide risk, however, homes are generally safe in Issaquah Highlands.
For localized hazards, he says the government has a greater capacity to respond at a moment’s notice. In this case, he encourages residents to sign up for Alert King County, which sends targeted emergency messages to residents (translated into 12 languages).
Meanwhile, he notes that personal preparedness is essential for regional hazards. For these types of events, fewer government resources are available and community members will become first responders until help arrives. He suggests that residents build an emergency kit for their entire family that will last at least two weeks.
Currently, Jared says the summer weather outlook anticipates above average seasonal temperatures with less precipitation than usual, which is standard for the last few summers. He expects above-normal wildfire risk in July and August, although smoke is already impacting people on the east side of the country, he adds.
The impact of climate change on summer temperatures is another factor to consider each year, he says. Currently, the City of Issaquah is conducting a wildfire evacuation study to determine how long it would take for residents to leave Issaquah Highlands in an emergency. The study will offer suggestions for improvements as well.
WILDFIRE PREVENTION
Cat Robinson, wildfire mitigation and emergency coordinator for Eastside Fire & Rescue (EFR), says hotter and drier summers in Washington state are making wildfires more common.
Issaquah Highlands is located in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), which means homes exist within our forests. Cat says living within the WUI is an important factor to consider when evaluating wildfire risk.
She encourages residents to participate in the free Wildfire Safe Eastside Home Assessment Program to lower your home’s “ignition potential,” which determines how likely your home will burn in a wildfire event. By completing the online request form, a firefighter will come to your house and conduct an assessment to determine wildfire mitigation measures.
In the case of an emergency, King County has three levels of wildfire evacuations: “Ready,” Level 2 “Set,” and Level 3 “Go.”
- Ready – you should be aware of danger in your area and start preparing to evacuate.
- Set – stay aware of the latest news and information and be ready to leave at a moment’s notice (leave now if you need extra time or feel unsafe)
- Go – you need to evacuate the area immediately.
Stay informed during local emergencies or disasters by…
- Following local agencies on Twitter, such as:
- Listening to 1700 AM, the City of Issaquah’s official radio station
- Watching ICTV Channel 21
CRIME & SAFETY
Issaquah Police Department (IPD) Patrol Sergeant Nathan Lane, accompanied by the city’s Crime Analyst Ryan Smith, discussed local crime and safety trends during the meeting.
According to IPD data in 2024, Issaquah Highlands has experienced a decline in crimes against persons and a rise in crimes against property and society compared to the same period last year.
Crimes against persons—which includes assault, human trafficking, kidnapping, sex offenses and no contact/protection orders—is down 35.7% in 2024. Notably, assaults have decreased by 42.9% (from 21 offenses in 2023 to 12 offenses in 2024).
Meanwhile, Crimes against property have increased by 11.7% compared to 2023. These offenses include burglary, vandalism, theft, arson, fraud and more. Nathan and Ryan confirmed that an organized group of local criminals burglarized several residential homes last year. Since then, the group has been arrested and residential burglaries have decreased by 62.5% this year.
While larceny has increased by 24.1% in 2024, it’s important to note that a majority of these offenses come from shoplifting (75 crimes in 2024; 44 crimes in 2023) at our local businesses. Car prowls have decreased by 57.9% so far this year.
Crimes against society have skyrocketed from 36 to 63 offenses (75% increase) in 2024, primarily due to criminal trespass at businesses. The number of trespasses has jumped from 13 offenses last year to 35 offenses (169.2% increase) this year.
Find more data and statistics from IPD here.
