Under increased wildfire risk, Kittitas County, Wash., proposes expanded fire codes

Kittitas County, Wash., is proposing an expanded jurisdiction of its rural home construction and landscaping rules aimed at reducing property damage from wildfires. The proposal would apply the rules throughout the rural areas of the county, in and outside fire districts. The requirements, in part, address when and where specific construction materials that are resistant to catching and spreading fire must be used. They also call for the clearing of combustible material and vegetation from around rural homes and related structures.