As Washington state prepares for a busy winter tourism season, officials are drawing parallels to the devastating Bolt Creek Fire two summers ago and expressing concerns about the increasing risk of wildfires. Skykomish Mayor Henry Sladek highlights the dry conditions and the potential for landslides in the fire-scarred area. While he notes that his insurance covers wildfires, he worries about broader trends in the insurance market, particularly in light of California's wildfire challenges. State officials emphasize the importance of fire prevention and point to recent investments in wildfire mitigation.
FILE - Emergency vehicles drive past a roadblock to head east on Highway 2 from Index, Wash., to respond to the Bolt Creek Fire Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
“It’s a lot drier than it used to be. Real similar to eastern Washington, which is where they’ve always had wildfire concerns,” Mayor Sladek explained. “We’ve heard in California some insurance aren’t providing coverage at all anymore. I think that’s kind of the same problems or concerns that might be happening up here,” he said.
“Do you anticipate the California wildfires to have any kind of impact on wildfire coverage here in Washington?” KOMO News' Jackie Kent asked.
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