Wildfire Season Underway, CWU Website Provides Fire and Smoke Updates

The current fire season is upon us and authorities have warned it will be among one of the worst. Central Washington University maintains a Fire Updates web page to provide current information on fires and air quality levels in and around the region.

“Smoke can and has affected operations, events, and travel, which is why we monitor it,” CWU Vice President for Public Affairs Kremiere Jackson said. “When wildfire approaches, we assist the community to keep information flowing and people and property out of harm’s way.”

CWU’s Ellensburg campus is centrally located within the state and has eight university centers/ instructional sites throughout Washington. The website serves as a one-stop resource for the CWU and surrounding communities.

Central has maintained the fire updates website since 2012. The site is an information clearinghouse for county emergency management, Washington Smoke Blog, Washington Air Quality Map, InciWeb Incident Information System, and news media then summarized on the CWU Fire Updates web page.

CWU works collaboratively with local and state agencies during wildfire season to coordinate efforts and disseminate information to the public. CWU also has supported local, state, and federal firefighting efforts by providing public meeting space, and food and housing for Red Cross staff, firefighters, and displaced families. CWU employees have helped transport and provide shelter for displaced animals, and have coordinated collection and management of materials donated to help displaced families.

Moreover, after experiencing several summers defined by wildfire, CWU is ready whenever wildfire strikes. The safety of CWU students and employees is of the highest concern and a top responsibility. The CWU Smoke Policy outlines safety guidelines for both students and employees.

For more information and to bookmark the Fire Updates site, visit www.cwu.edu/fireupdates.

Media contact: Dawn Alford, Department of Public Affairs, 509-963-1484, dawn.alford@cwu.edu

Photo: by Jason Kriess, SFC, Washington National Guard