After delay, Oregonians at highest risk of wildfire can expect state notification soon

One purpose of Oregon’s wildfire danger map mandated last year Senate Bill 80To identify tax lots in semi-rural wildland-urban interface areas as well as high-risk zones that define fire risk and potential intensity.

according to Oregon Department of Forestry timelineThe state planned to send letters to owners of parcels that fall into both categories on Oct. 1, explaining what precautions they might need to take to protect their homes and communities from wildfire.

However, even though a month has passed, citizens are still waiting. According to ODF, property owners can expect to finally receive notification in about two weeks.

Derek Gasperini, ODF’s communications manager, said the delay was due in part to the state having to review more than 2,000 public comments on a draft wildfire hazard map released over the summer. The state canceled a previous version of the map in 2022 after public outcry. Officials did not respond to all of these comments on the new draft, but the map has been slightly updated to take into account some common themes from the criticisms.

“The biggest change in the recent period is what we call ‘softening’,” Gasperini said. “It was difficult for people to visually understand how two neighboring properties might have different red flags.”

He said the new version of the map will make minor adjustments to help residents better understand the distinction between different danger levels.

“There are still the same number of property tax lots coming out, but there have been some definition changes…. The differences between high danger, medium danger or medium and low danger have more contiguous lines, Gasperini said.

Another reason for the delay in mailing notices is the administrative difficulties of mailing 12-page packages to approximately 100,000 residents by certified mail, according to Gasperini.

Those packages, many of which will be sent to Southern Oregon, include draft codes that spell out what property owners might need to do, such as using fire-resistant building materials and creating a buffer between structures and vegetation. However, Gasperini said that the implementation of these rules will happen later.

“We’re just trying to provide people with as much information as possible about what the designation means, minimizing the concern of home hardening or making defensible space, which would come at a cost to property owners,” he said.

Following the release of the final version of the map, he explained that once the final codes are approved by the Oregon State Fire Marshal and Building Codes Division, property owners who are already compliant will not need to do anything.

“If you already have appropriate defensible space, then identifying high hazard and wildland-urban interface will not require you to do any more than you already do,” Gasperini said.

Once residents receive their packages, they will have 60 days to object to the allocation of their property. Gasperini stated that he did not want to hinder anyone’s right to appeal, but the chances of a successful fight were slim.

“Since the map is based on climate, weather, topography and vegetation, this is actually an appeal to incorrect data or incorrect application of laws and rules,” Gasperini said.

However, he said the state is preparing for the appeals process with a plan for residents to hold their hearings remotely. The final version of the bushfire danger map will be published as the 60-day window closes.

Copyright 2024 Jefferson Public Radio

This story comes to you from Northwest News Network, a collaboration of public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.