Burdoin Fire Recovery Assistance
Burdoin Fire, 2025
Dear Klickitat County neighbors,
We know first-hand how hard it can be to be displaced by wildfire — members of our team have been evacuated during the Burdoin Fire, or have had family deeply affected by other wildfires. It’s sometimes overwhelming to be faced with the emotional, financial, and physical loss from fires in our communities: losing important documents, searching for sentimental items, repairing and rebuilding homes, the list grows longer and longer.
Members of our community are resilient, and we’re here to help get you to the other side when you’re ready. We’ve put together a brief list of resources on this page that we hope will be helpful once your focus turns to your vegetation, water, and animals.
LAND RESTORATION & RECOVERY ASSISTANCE
We are grateful for the opportunity to provide you with assistance in land restoration work as you recover from the Burdoin Fire. While we realize our support is a small portion of the larger impact this fire has had, we hope the following resources will be helpful to you. Thanks to grant funding from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and in-kind support from Carbon Capture Foundation, here is what we can offer:
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
We have compiled the various resources and technical recommendations on this website; see the technical resources linked below. Folks can still reach out for a post-wildfire visit to assess their trees/woodlands or other natural resource questions by calling 509-637-7003 or emailing: fire@ucdwa.org.
Also, those interested in strengthening their defensible space against wildfire, wherever they live in Skamania and western Klickitat County, can sign up for a defensible space assessment here.
Here are several technical resources for your land restoration needs:
Post-Fire General Guidance (UCD)
Post-Fire Pine Tree Guidance (UCD)
Post-Fire Seeding Guidance (NRCS)
List of Plant and Seed Vendors (NRCS)
Managing Your Oak Trees (ECOP)
CHIPPING
UCD will run a mobile chipper service in November. We will provide an estimated several hours of chipping service per property/household, on a first-come, first-served basis. Here is the weblink to register for chipping to help reduce woody debris created by the burn. This is a free service but be sure to read our terms and conditions for chipping carefully before signing up (link in the form description). Registration for fall chipping will close on October 26th at 11:59 PM!
PLANTS & SEED
UCD is offering limited amounts of seed mixes and native potted trees to assist Burdoin Fire-impacted landowners in restoring the land. Plants and seed will be available for pick-up at the UCD Office (171 NW Washington Street, White Salmon) November 3 -14, Monday-Friday, 9am to 4pm, no appointment necessary.
Seeding recommendations and methods are available linked in the technical resources above, which includes the recommendation to seed from Nov. 15 through Dec. 31.
As seed quantities are limited and will be given out first-come, first-served basis, people can reserve an order ahead of time, before the close of business Tuesday, Oct. 28, by calling or texting a name and address to 509-637-7003, or emailing dan@ucdwa.org.
We expect to have 20 lbs. of seed mix per property/household, with a choice of native or introduced seed mixes. Native plants are better for pollinators and the landscape generally, but are slower to establish than the introduced grass seed mix.
We realize this is a relatively small amount of seed for some folks’ needs, but we are aiming to effectively help as many people as we can. Additional seed mixes and potential seed vendors are found linked in the technical resources above.
Potted trees available, while supplies last, include a small number of the following species:
Bigleaf Maple
Oregon White Oak
UCD also holds a spring native plant sale, with on-line orders starting January 2, 2026.
TOOLS
Folks looking to re-seed, re-plant and/or remove weeds after the Burdoin Fire will have free access to the Food & Farm Tool Library for tools that support these practices! Please browse the tool inventory, and contact James Osmolenski to arrange for reservation and tool pick-up (james@ucdwa.org and 509-637-7007).
FENCING & OTHER LARGE PROJECTS
Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) may have other financial assistance programs to assist with fence repair/replacement or other larger-scale projects. Please contact FSA and NRCS at (509)773-5822, USDA Service Center, 1107 S. Columbus Ave. Goldendale, WA 98620.
Burdoin Fire, 2025
BURDOIN FIRE INFORMATION
Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management
DEM fire resources
This website has a great deal of information, arranged by subject, such as tip sheets and booklets for forest landowners, people with erosion concerns, and much more
FOUR SHORT TIPSHEETS EVERYONE SHOULD READ
RECOVERY & HEALTH
Klickitat County
Re-entry kits for residents are available from Klickitat County — don't go into burned areas or structures unprepared!
Water and septic system tipsheets
Public Health short environmental health survey
"If you were affected by the fire, please take the Environmental Health Recovery Survey. Someone from the Health Department will reach out to answer questions you may have and assist in finding resources for debris disposal, hazardous waste cleanup, septic inspections, water testing, and more."
Washington State Department of Agriculture
PROTECTING HOMES FROM WILDFIRE
For more information about how UCD can help you improve your home ignition zone - including free assessments, mobile chipping service, and potential eligibility for a work crew and/or community and neighborhood projects - see our Wildfire Page.