Tree service in Asotin County, Washington

Storm records for Asotin County

With 68 reports from 2016 through 2026, Asotin sits in the bottom quarter of Washington counties for storm activity. Heavy snow makes up 35 of them, high wind 15 and wildfire 7, with a handful of hail, thunderstorm wind and lightning reports. February (15) and January (12) are the peak months, but only 59% of reports fall between November and February, since summer adds wind, fire and hail.

The costliest entry is a wildfire: one that started July 15, 2024, from an undetermined cause, which NOAA tied to $35 million in damage. That single report outweighs every snow event in the record.

Year to year the count swings: none in 2018, 13 each in 2019 and 2020, 11 in 2024. No deaths or injuries are listed. For a homeowner, that means scheduled removals and pruning are the norm, with fire prep before summer.

NWS forecast zones covering the county: Lower Garfield and Asotin Counties; Northeast Blue Mountains.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 2016 to June 2026 · NWS zone-county correlation files (2019 to 2026 versions). Checked 2026-10-02. NOAA Storm Events 2016-2026; zone-based events assigned to every county the NWS zone covers using the zone-county correlation file in force on the event date (2019-04-02 file used for 2016-2018).

Hazard ratings

Strong wind: Very LowIce storm: Very LowWinter weather: Very LowWildfire: Relatively Moderate

FEMA’s National Risk Index (December 2025) rates Asotin County Very Low overall and Very Low for wind, ice and winter weather. Wildfire is Relatively Moderate, with a score of 89.4, and wildfire risk to homes is higher than in 71% of Washington counties.

That makes fire the reason to call a crew in spring: remove dead trees, limb up conifers near the house and clear ladder fuels. The defensible space guide and the dead tree removal page explain the work.

Wildfire risk to homes: higher than 71% of Washington counties (USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities).

What to do about wildfire exposure: defensible space in Washington and Oregon.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release · USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities (April 2026 download). Checked 2026-10-02.

Burning the debris

Washington’s Department of Ecology sets the outdoor-burning rules statewide: no residential or land-clearing burning in urban growth areas or in cities over 10,000 (WAC 173-425-040), plus prohibited materials, required attendance and a 50-foot setback wherever burning is allowed (WAC 173-425-050). Given the fire record, check with your fire district before burning anything; the Washington burning guide has the details.

Full rules, seasons and alternatives: yard debris burning rules in Washington.

Source: Washington Department of Ecology. Checked 2026-10-02.

Power lines and utilities

Asotin County’s electric utility isn’t mapped on this site yet, so there’s no outage line or trimming policy to show here. Call the utility on your bill before work near a line and see the utilities page for how clearance responsibility usually splits between utility and homeowner.

Source: utility vegetation-management pages linked above; WAC 296-24-960 (WA L&I). Checked 2026-10-02.

Cities and towns in Asotin County

Clarkston (7,161) and Asotin (1,204) are the county’s cities, and neither has been researched for tree rules yet; ask the city before removing a tree along a street. The county had 22,545 people in 2025, up 1.13% since 2020, across 636 square miles.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Vintage 2025 and 2020 Census. Checked 2026-10-02. Permit rules from each city’s code; see the city pages.

Labor index

No metro estimate covers Asotin County, so the statewide figure stands in: BLS puts Washington’s mean wage for tree trimmers and pruners at $32.20 an hour. That is a labor index, not a price; the modeled crew-hour rate below adds burden, equipment and overhead. Census County Business Patterns counted just 3 landscaping-services establishments in the county in 2023, so book planned work early and expect few local bids.

Washington statewide: $32.20 per hour mean wage for tree trimmers and pruners (BLS, May 2025); no metro estimate is published, so the statewide figure is shown. This is a labor index, not a price; the modeled crew-hour cost used on this site is $210 (method).

3 landscaping-services establishments were counted in Asotin County in 2023 (Census County Business Patterns, NAICS 561730).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 37-3013 · U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, NAICS 561730. Checked 2026-10-02.

Climate and growing conditions

The county falls in USDA hardiness zones 7a and 7b. Choose replacements rated to zone 6 for margin, plant in early spring or fall, and water through dry summers. Near the house, favor fire-resistant deciduous trees over resinous conifers, and keep new plantings spaced so crowns won’t touch as they grow.

USDA hardiness zones 7a, 7b (2023 map, by ZIP code).

Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (OSU PRISM ZIP data). Checked 2026-10-02.

Nearby counties

• Garfield County62 storm reports since 2016
• Columbia County69 storm reports since 2016
• Whitman County99 storm reports since 2016
• Walla Walla County121 storm reports since 2016
• Adams County120 storm reports since 2016

What to do next

Before summer, walk the property for dead trees and low limbs near structures and have them handled. After a snow event, use the fallen tree guide and the Washington storm damage and insurance guide. Confirm any contractor’s registration in the Washington license lookup before work starts.

Services: tree removal · trimming · stump grinding · emergency. Check any company: Washington license lookup.

Major storms that reached Asotin County

These regional storms produced NOAA Storm Events reports in Asotin County since 2016. Each storm page lists the dates, report counts and the other counties hit.

• September 2024 eastern Washington windstorm