PEMCO in the Northwest

​I recently wrote about Firewising in April, citing severe local blazes in recent years. But I neglected to note, until now, why wildfires seem to be worsening.The April 12 Northern Kittitas County Tribune ran an excellent summary of the Northwest's growing wildfire danger, as written by Rose Shriner, an expert who manages wildfire preparedness for Kittitas County. It echoes what PEMCO has learned in its own research and what we're told by WFull post

​Washington's official wildfire season began April 15, and now is the time for rural homeowners to rid their property of wildfire fuel. It's time to Firewise.A key Firewise practice is to build defensible space around your home, so that if fire encroaches, it will find little fuel.I first learned about Firewise 14 years ago when we bought our second home on 5 acres near Cle Elum. Growing up in Seattle's Eastside suburbia, I was ignorant of the dFull post

​We live in a lush region known for abundant rainfall, nearly enough to give some gardeners webbed feet.Well, perhaps it's not that wet. But in keeping with Northwest values, here are six tips that can make you feel good about conserving water, whether we're dealing with deluge or drought. Mulch more. Soil rich in organic matter holds water better. Add compost – grass clippings, leaves, and other organic matter – to the soil before you plant.Full post

​Q: I got ticketed for using my smartphone while driving. Will that affect my insurance rates?A: Yes, tickets issued for using an electronic device in your vehicle will impact your insurance costs.I think most of us can agree that people operating a vehicle should place their full attention on driving. Despite that, many drivers still report answering incoming calls or viewing incoming texts while they're behind the wheel.Distractions frFull post

​While it's an urban legend that Northwesterners buy more sunglasses than other Americans (regionally, the South beats the West by about 15%, according to our friends at KUOW), we still likely don more than our share of shades.That's slightly ironic considering our un-affinity for umbrellas. Here in a region famous for rain and gray skies, 78% of Washingtonians and Oregonians say they're unlikely to use one. About half say they never do, accordiFull post