Post-Fire Preparedness and Recovery

After a wildfire is contained, media coverage and outside attention tend to move on quickly. But for the people and communities affected, it’s often just the beginning of a long, complex road toward rebuilding. Recovery deserves the same sustained attention as response and suppression — and it’s become a central part of how WRCD approaches wildfire.

WRCD’s involvement in recovery work dates back to 2015, when we took part in workshops, listening sessions, and meetings following the 2014/15 wildfires. In 2024, we deepened that commitment by formally weaving recovery into our Community Wildfire Resilience programming.

Working alongside the Washington Department of Natural Resources’ Post-Fire Recovery Program, WRCD is now helping build out the state’s recovery capacity. As of 2025, our accomplishments include:

• Presenting at DNR’s annual All Hands, All Lands Post-Fire Recovery Workshops in 2024 and 2025
• Joining field trips to burned areas to exchange lessons learned with agency partners, land managers, and partner organizations
• Developing a Post-Fire Recovery Planning Toolkit for stakeholders and partners working on Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs)
• Participating in a Learning Exchange in Ashland, Oregon on community-led recovery after the Almeda Fire
• Presenting at the the national After the Flames Conference & Workshop in Cle Elum, WA on our tools and resources.