NW Poll: Wildfire and smoke

How prepared are you for a wildfire? According to the latest PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll, the Pacific Northwest is growing more concerned about the threat of wildfires than in years past.  

With the wildfire season now starting earlier and lasting much longer, that’s no surprise – however, one intriguing poll showcased that despite residents’ growing caution, one in four don’t do anything to prepare. 

The poll asked several questions of Northwest residents about concern over wildfire threats, preparations for wildfire season, how they handle poor air quality, and more. Here are a few key highlights from the research:
 

• The vast majority of Northwest residents (82%) are concerned about the thread of wildfire. However, one-quarter of respondents (26%) admit they don't take steps to prepare for smoke or fire before the threat is imminent. 

• There is a significant difference in mindset between Eastern and Western Washington residents. Respondents in the Seattle metro area were twice as likely as their Spokane counterparts to say they're not at all concerned about the threat of wildfire (22% vs. 11%). 

• A staggering 95% of residents worry about polluted, smoky air caused by worsening wildfires. One in three people agree that smoky conditions significantly impact their health and well-being. 

• The most common type of preparation for poor air quality statewide? Buying an air purifier. Half of the residents polled say they do--which is up from 37% in 2022 when PEMCO last asked what steps people take to protect themselves. 

How do your thoughts on the threat of wildfire stack up?  Read the full report here.

 

About the PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll 

PEMCO Mutual Insurance commissioned this independent survey, conducted by Qualtrics, that asked Washington and Oregon residents questions about attitudes toward current Northwest issues. The sample size, 420 respondents in the Seattle Metro (King, Snohomish, Pierce Counties) region, 402 respondents in the Portland Metro (Multnomah, Marion, Clackamas, Washington Counties), and 383 respondents in the Spokane area (Spokane and Stevens Counties) yields an accuracy of +/- 5.0% respectively at the 95% confidence level. In other words, if this study were conducted 100 times, in 95 instances the data will not vary by more than the associated error range.