Handling the Heat: The Evolving Nature of Washington's Wildfires

When
October 8, 2019 11:00 am — 12:30 pm
Where
Seattle, WA (and webinar)

An ELI and Nossaman LLP co-sponsored 50th Anniversary Seminar

According to the Washington Department of Natural Resources, between 2013–2018 it cost $153 million annually to fight wildfires in the state of Washington. Washington’s wildfires are more than just a financial burden, they are the cause of devastating environmental and human health impacts. Meanwhile, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D–CA) and Steve Daines (R–MT) introduced a bipartisan bill that aims to protect communities from wildfires ravaging the West. Building upon the June 2019 seminar Strategizing Against the Flame: What's Next for California's Wildfires, this seminar focused specifically on the evolving characteristics and implications of wildfires in Washington, as well as effects for the greater Pacific Northwest.

What are the unique challenges and solutions associated with wildfires in Washington? How will the state, and the Pacific Northwest more broadly, adapt to the increased frequency and severity of wildfires intensified by climate change? What are the obstacles and opportunities for forest management including land use, development, and insurance in the context of wildfires? Our panelists explored the distinctive qualities of Washington’s wildfires, the law and policies of regional natural resource planning, and the legal implications of planning for, reacting to, and recovering from wildfires.

Panelists:
Willis Hon, Associate, Nossaman LLP, Moderator
Jason Callahan, Director of Government Relations, Washington Forest Protection Association
Daniel Donato, Natural Resource Scientist, Forest Resources Division, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Maureen Kennedy, Assistant Professor, School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Division of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Washington Tacoma
Linda Larson, Partner, Nossaman LLP

Materials:
ELI members will have access to materials/a recording of this session (usually posted w/in 48 hours). If you are not an ELI member but would like to have access to archived sessions like this one, go HERE to see the many benefits of membership and how to join.

Reference Materials:
Nossaman LLP Energy & Utilities Industry Group brochure