Oregon delays release of next wildfire risk map

by Featured NewsWildland Fire

The Oregon Legislature has said it will be considering a number of recommendations for changes related to the state-wide wildfire risk map during the 2023 session, some of which would substantively change the map itself.

Following conversations last week with the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire Programs Advisory Council, the state has decided to postpone the release of an updated draft of the map, which was planned for March 2023.

Cal Mukumoto, Oregon State Forester and director of the Oregon Department of Forestry, explained: “As we’ve been working with Oregon State University on technical adjustments to the map and planning for community outreach and engagement, we’ve also been keeping a close eye on the policy conversations happening in different venues.

“There were some great recommendations that came out of the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council’s first annual report and opportunities identified by Wildfire Programs Director Doug Grafe related to the map that I hope the Legislature gets the opportunity to explore during this session.”

These recommendations are in addition to several bills proposing a variety of changes ranging from which areas are assigned a risk classification to abolishing the map entirely. “We want to avoid expending resources on work that may not align with new direction that may come from the Legislature this session,” Mukumoto said.

Members of both the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council expressed support for continued mapping of wildfire hazards to identify where to direct investments in wildfire mitigation activities including fuels reduction and building defensible space.

“Our goal this session is to get resources and expertise to Oregonians already doing good work on the ground to protect their properties and neighborhoods,” said Senator Jeff Golden (D), Ashland. Golden chairs the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and was the chief sponsor of SB 762.

“It’s important to get that done and to do all we can to ease the homeowner insurance challenges that the era of megafires has brought us before moving forward with any map.”

Mark Bennett, chair of the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council, recognised the broad recognition of the need for increased outreach, education and engagement with communities: “We need an integrated, coordinated and robust communications and outreach effort across all Senate Bill 762 programs to help property owners understand what their classification means, how they can better protect their homes and what resources are available to help them with that work.”

OSU, ODF’s partner in the development of the map, will lend technical expertise to upcoming educational efforts related to wildfire risk and hazard. Tom DeLuca, dean of OSU’s College of Forestry, said: “We are prepared to support state agencies in education plans and will help develop and implement an operational plan as needed.”

Other state agencies with SB 762 responsibilities that have a nexus to the map are Office of the State Fire Marshal, Department of Consumer and Business Services – Building Codes Division and the Department of Land Conservation and Development.

Senator Golden added: “The success of this whole program depends on strong collaboration between state government, local leaders and property owners in wildfire-prone areas. Building that partnership has to be job number one over the coming months.

“When we feel like we’re pulling in the same direction, we’ll be ready for a much better conversation about the map.”

Oregon announces strategy to create fire-resilient communities

by Featured NewsIndustry SectorsWildland Fire

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) announced a revised action plan and timeline for engaging the public on wildfire protection efforts as part of the state’s strategy to create more fire-resilient communities.

“A big part of our work over the next year is focused on engaging with, listening to and informing the public about wildfire risk,” said Cal Mukumoto, Oregon State Forester and director of ODF.

“This engagement will involve visiting communities across the state, talking with people, addressing concerns and answering questions. Ultimately, all of the agencies involved in this effort want to make sure Oregonians in the most at-risk communities know what they can do to better protect themselves, their families and friends, and their homes from wildfire.”

The revised plan will be implemented in collaboration with Oregon State University’s (OSU) College of Forestry, the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS).

Doug Grafe, Wildfire Programs Director with the Office of the Governor, said: “Most Oregonians understand wildfires are becoming more catastrophic and more frequent. I have witnessed, across the state, that Oregonians want to be part of the solution in protecting our communities.

“It’s clear that steps can be taken to increase the survivability of homes and communities when wildfires do occur, including creating defensible space, hardening homes and implementing hazardous fuels reduction projects.”

One component of SB 762 was the creation of a state-wide wildfire risk map to serve as a planning and information tool for Oregonians, communities and state and local government. The purpose of the map—a collaboration between ODF and wildfire scientists at OSU’s College of Forestry—is to provide transparent and science-based information to Oregonians about the factors near them that drive wildfire exposure including weather, climate, vegetation and topography. The tool will also be used to guide the state in directing resources to communities with the greatest likelihood of wildfires.

“Oregon State University’s College of Forestry has used, and will continue to use, the best science to contribute to state-wide wildfire risk mapping,” said Tom DeLuca, dean of OSU’s College of Forestry. “

We support the importance of changing the timeline for the mapping component of SB 762. This added time provides an opportunity to better share information and conduct authentic community engagement by listening to Oregonians and community leaders across our state in the implementation of the new law.

“Even with the timeline change, we must all recognize that addressing fire risk in Oregon is a priority that will require all of us to work together.”

The revised timeline is as follows:

  • October through February 2023: Public and stakeholder engagement, outreach and education. Includes wildfire science, risk and mitigation outreach and education, with focus on the most vulnerable areas; identifying opportunities for investments in wildfire prevention; completing building codes and defensible space standards for the most vulnerable communities; compilation and analysis of feedback received; and technical refinements.
  • March 1, 2023: Public rollout of draft wildfire risk map. Draft map shared with the public.
  • March through September 2023: Public outreach, engagement and education on draft wildfire risk map. Includes working with ODF, OSU College of Forestry, local governments, planning departments, Department of Land Conservation and Development, Oregon State Fire Marshal and the state Building Codes Division to review the draft map; public outreach, education and engagement on the draft map and related topics including building codes and defensible space standards; and making any necessary revisions based on feedback received on updated map.
  • October through December 2023: Final wildfire risk map shared with the public for implementation. Includes sharing a final wildfire risk map with the public, initiating a 60-day appeals process and notifying those who are in the most high-risk areas about the steps needed to protect their homes and properties from catastrophic wildfires and how to comply with defensible space standards and building codes.

Grafe commented: “The revised plan and timeline allow us to prioritize engagement, collaboration and communication. We are committed to ensuring people understand what they can do to increase the likelihood their homes and properties will survive wildfires. The wildfire risk map is one of several tools we will use to inform this work.”

SB 762 directs state agencies to focus resources in Oregon’s highest-risk areas to ensure homes are adhering to building codes and defensible space standards. These building codes and defensible space standards will not be adopted or implemented until the wildfire risk map is finalized in late 2023, but will be available in the near future so people can familiarize themselves with the new expectations.

Cedar Creek Fire in Oregon triples in size

by ActiveFeatured NewsIndustry SectorsWildland Fire

The Cedar Creek Fire, which started on 1 August in west-central Oregon has more than tripled in size from 27,512 acres on the morning of Thursday September 8 to 85,900 acres by Saturday night.

The majority of growth was to the west driven by strong easterly winds and dry fuels. The incident management team says 2,230 homes and 443 commercial structures remain threatened, but there have been no reports that any structures have been destroyed. 

The most recent statement from Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal said that due to strong east winds and triple-digit temperatures, work has primarily focused on the west side of the fire and that As conditions change and winds shift, firefighters with the OSFM will continue to evaluate threat to lives and properties.

Fire crews continue working day and night shifts to access structures and patrol critical areas where the fire is nearing. The fire remained north of Highway 58, south of Forest Road 19, and east of Eagle Butte.

In the east zone, direct checking actions continued on the southeast edge in the Waldo Lake area and efforts were being focused on creating fire breaks along existing roads and other barriers and burn-out operations to reduce fuels. 

Crews are reportedly working in the Brown Mountain area to reinforce a barrier east of the highway between the Crane Prairie and Wickiup reservoirs. The State Fire Marshal statement said these fire breaks are a high priority and will likely take most of a week to complete.

‘Red Flag Warning’ – high winds further spread US West Coast wildfires

by Americas - Breaking News

The US National Weather Service has issued a “red flag warning” for areas of the West Coast, as high winds threaten to spread devastating wildfires still further.

Gusts of up to 40 mph (64 km/h) are expected in parts of southern Oregon, with no rain.

Fires have been raging for three weeks in Oregon, California and Washington, burning land and destroying homes.

Tens of thousands of people have had to flee and at least 33 have died.

Dozens of people are missing in Oregon alone, with one emergency official saying the state should be preparing for a “mass fatality incident”.

Cooler, moister conditions on Saturday allowed firefighters to make some progress with the fires.

However, the forecast for Sunday prompted a warning of winds of 15-25 mph and gusts of 30-40 mph in the Shasta Valley and east of the Southern Oregon cascades.

A red flag warning is the highest alert for events which could result in major fires, and which demands extreme caution by residents.

This area includes Jackson County, Oregon, where the Almeda fire has destroyed hundreds of homes and remains only 50% contained.

The fires have so far scorched an area of land the size of New Jersey, officials say.

The smoke pollution from the wildfires has left Oregon’s largest city, Portland, with the worst air quality in the world, followed by San Francisco and Seattle, according to recent findings from IQAir.

Crews stop nearly 50-acre wildfire in Oregon

by Americas - Featured News

A new wildfire broke out and quickly put up a billowing smoke column on Sunday 5th July near Paulina Lake Road in the La Pine area in the state of Oregon, burning nearly 50 acres before crews in an intense air and ground attack got a line around it.

The Paulina Lake Fire was reported just after 1 p.m., burning on Bureau of Land Management land east of U.S. Highway 97 and north of Paulina Lake Road (Forest Road 21).

The fast-moving fire burned in timber and brush 1-2 miles northwest of Ogden Group Camp, off Forest Road 9735, and was estimated at 15-20 acres around 3:30 p.m. in tweets from Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch.

Six engines, a bulldozer and a water tender were among initial resources called in to attack the fire, which burned near the Deschutes National Forest boundary, Forest Service spokeswoman Kassidy Kern said. One heavy air tanker, a Type 2 tanker and a single-engine air tanker were called in to support firefighters on the ground.

Firefighters stopped forward progress of the blaze before 6:30 p.m. and had containment lines around its perimeter, officials said. The fire was estimated at 48.5 acres. Crews will work through the night to secure the perimeter and patrol for spot fires, Kern said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation as the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said there had been no evacuations. Several other brush fires were tackled around the region on Sunday, including a small brushfire off Southwest Brookswood Boulevard in Bend that residents went after with extinguishers and rakes, and one off Ten Bar Ranch Road and Highway 20 east of Bend that reportedly burned about two acres late Sunday afternoon.

“Central Oregon is currently in high fire danger, meaning fuels are very receptive to ignitions,” Kern said in a news release. “If you are recreating on public lands, remember to remain diligent about ensuring all campfires are ‘dead out’ and cold to the touch when you leave them, all spark arrestors are properly installed, and trailer chains are secured.”