Eli King was appointed to the national Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission earlier this month



Having trouble viewing this email? View it online [ [link removed] ]

Commerce Logo


?

News Release



July 19, 2022

Washington Energy Emergency Management Director appointed to federal commission addressing wildfire crisis

*Olympia, WA* ? Eli King, energy emergency management director for the Washington State Department of Commerce, was appointed to the national Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission earlier this month.

Eli King headshot

The U.S. departments of Agriculture, Homeland Security and the Interior, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced the 11 federal and 36 non-federal commission members [ [link removed] ] on July 7. More than 500 applications were submitted for the positions.

The newly created Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission will play a key role in recommending how federal agencies can better prevent, manage and suppress wildland fires. It was established as part of President Joe Biden?s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in December 2021.

The commission brings together members from federal agencies, Tribes, state and local municipalities, and private entities from across the nation.



King is joined by two other members from Washington: Tim Cook, hazard mitigation officer at the Washington State Emergency Management Division, and Cody Desautel, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation?s natural resources director.

?We know commission members from Washington will contribute valuable energy resilience and fire management recommendations to the final report,? said Commerce Director Lisa Brown. ?Eli King consistently partners with communities, agencies and private organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest to plan for and manage energy emergencies, including wildfires. Her expertise will be a valuable asset to the commission.?

Commerce?s Energy Emergency Management Office coordinates Washington?s response to energy emergencies, supporting infrastructure and strengthening communities in their recovery. King has been in this role with Commerce since fall 2018.

?Eli?s leadership since she joined Commerce has been invaluable,? said Michael Furze, Energy Division assistant director. ?She has transformed the role of the office, as the team focuses on alleviating energy disruptions from widespread risks, including impacts to the electricity grid and fuel and natural gas shortages.?

Wildfires cause significant damage and are an origin of environmental disparities, as detailed in Washington?s 2021 State Energy Strategy [ [link removed] ].

?Every year, fire seasons last longer, cause more damage to infrastructure and homes, and strain the already limited firefighting resources throughout the West,? King said. ?We must invest in energy resilience planning and collaborating across regions to manage and mitigate these impacts.?

The commission will recommend equipment needs for aerial firefighting and provide input restoring land affected by wildfire. The commission will also prepare a report with policy recommendations for Congress. The commission will hold its first virtual meeting later in July.

View the full member list [ [link removed] ] for the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission.

###

Media Center [ [link removed] ]

Media Contact

Liz Rocca <[email protected]>

Commerce Communications, 360-972-0338






Stay connected

subscribe [ [link removed] ]twitter [ [link removed] ]facebook [ [link removed] ]


About Commerce

Commerce works with local governments, businesses, community-based organizations and tribes to strengthen communities. The department?s diverse portfolio of more than 100 programs and effective public and private partnerships promote sustainable community and economic development to help all Washingtonians thrive. For more information, visit [link removed]. For information on locating or expanding a business in Washington, visit choosewashingtonstate.com [ [link removed] ].

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

This service is provided to you at no charge by Washington Department of Commerce [ [link removed] ].

Subscribe [ [link removed] ] | Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ] | Unsubscribe All [ [link removed] ] | Help [ [link removed] ] | Contact us [ [link removed] ]





This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Washington State Department of Commerce ? 1011 Plum Street SE, P.O. Box 42525 ? Olympia, WA 98504-2525 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]