SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane neighbors who live near the South Hill bluff can learn next week how more than 200 acres of wildfire-prevention work have made their neighborhoods safer.
The Spokane Fire Department will host a community presentation on Tuesday, January 13, at 6 PM to explain the massive fuel reduction project completed over several months. The meeting will be held in the ballroom of the Spokane Women’s Club. Its address is 1428 W 9th Ave, Spokane, WA 99204.
Nick Jeffries, Wildland Resource Planner for the fire department, will detail how crews cleared dangerous brush and vegetation that could have fueled devastating wildfires threatening homes and the beloved natural area.
The presentation will also cover why the treatments were essential for wildfire resilience, how crews carried out the work, and what residents can expect moving forward.
Crews treated 212 acres of the bluff after the city secured federal grant funding to address fire risks. The project began in October 2025 with contracted workers using chainsaws and woodchippers to clear dry brush, twigs, and branches while creating more space between trees. Crews are wrapping up the final chipping and touch-up work, with completion expected later this month.
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The work addressed significant fire risks on the bluff, where accumulated dry vegetation posed threats to both the forest and nearby neighborhoods.
In September, Laura Ackerman, president of Friends of the Bluff, had warned about the area’s vulnerability.
“The bluff is very vulnerable to fire,” Ackerman said in September. “We’ve had the driest summer on record, and you can see that it has impacted the bluff.”
The non-profit Friends of the Bluff had worked to clear brush from the hillside but needed additional support for the large-scale project. The completed work aimed to protect both the forest and nearby neighborhoods from potential wildfire damage, where a single spark could ignite devastating fires.
Following Jeffries’ presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and participate in a discussion about the project.
Community members who cannot attend but have questions can contact Nick Jeffries at Njeffries@spokanecity.org or 509-981-1176.
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