Thurston Conservation District is working with various partners across the county to create a South Thurston County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) in 2025. This document will be the first CWPP developed in Thurston County and will cover the southern half of the county, with the possibility of expanding the CWPP in the future to include north Thurston County. The CWPP is a vital document for the future of wildfire resiliency in Thurston County. 

What is a CWPP?
The CWPP is a planning document that captures the collaborative process, values, and priorities of stakeholders who are working to prepare for wildfire. This process involves gathering community input, assessing data, and local decision making to prioritize and implement wildfire mitigation actions that can occur within 5-10 years.

Who is involved?

  • Thurston Conservation District
  • Department of Natural Resources
  • Local farms and ranches
  • Local officials
  • Public Utilities Department
  • WA Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • US Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • WA State Parks
  • Thurston County
  • Thurston County Emergency Management
  • Fire Authorities
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Community members
  • Chehalis Tribe
  • Nisqually Tribe
  • WA State Conservation Commission

What does this mean for my community?
The CWPP will outline community priorities and list potential projects that can be completed to reduce the ignition potential in and around vulnerable areas: cell/radio towers, schools, neighborhoods with limited evacuation routes, or anywhere else the community deems a priority or vulnerability.

How can I get involved?
See below for stakeholder meeting dates:

  • November 14, 2025: Community Profile
  • January 14, 2025: WUI and Wildfire Risk Assessment
  • March 5, 2025: Community Engagement Meeting
    Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
    RSVP to Jae Townsend, jtownsend@thurstoncd.com
  • March 25, 2025: Stakeholder Meeting #3
  • April: Stakeholder Meeting #4
  • May/June: Community Engagement Meeting

The creation of the South Thurston County CWPP is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

Want to know more about the CWPP process?

Stephanie Bishop
Community Sustainability Program Director
sbishop@thurstoncd.com
360-999-0170

You can also use our contact form.