Central Oregon Wildfire Information
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UDRC Defensible Space Reimbursement Program
The Defensible Space Reimbursement Program will open for Spring applications beginning January 15, 2023. The Fall application period will begin on July 15, 2023.
The UDRC will help property owners within the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District with the cost of creating or maintaining defensible space for wildfire risk reduction. The UDRC will reimburse your expenses for licensed fuels reduction contractors or rental equipment up to $500 maximum. Property owners who did not receive a reimbursement in 2022 may apply in 2023.
One application for a UDRC Defensible Space program from a sole or joint property owner will be accepted for work completed by June 30, 2023. Applicants for the Reimbursement Program may not apply for the Low-income Senior program in the same year. The UDRC will not reimburse work completed before your application is approved. Your work plan must include examples of wildfire fuels reduction listed on the application form.
To apply for the 2023 Spring Defensible Space Reimbursement Program click here for the online application form.
UDRC Low-income Senior or Low-income Disabled Defensible Space Program
The intention of this program is to offer assistance to property owners who cannot do the work themselves, or afford to hire someone else to do the work. UDRC has partnered with Council on Aging of Central Oregon to provide free wildfire fuels reduction services for low-income senior or low-income disabled homeowners in the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District. Click here for a printable flyer describing the program. To apply for this program, click here for the mail in application form with income and age or disability requirements or call UDRC at 541-556-0317 to request the application form. Applicants for the Low-income Senior or Low Income Disabled Program may not apply for the Reimbursement program in the same year.
2022 UDRC Programs Review
Defensible Space Reimbursement Program
Total Reimbursements: 90
Property Owner Expenses: $114,467
UDRC Reimbursement Payments: $44,640
47 reimbursements to UDRC communities
43 reimbursements to La Pine Area communities
Low-income Senior Defensible Space Program
Property Assessments: 15
Projects Completed: 12
Contractor Payments: $10,236
The Low-income Senior program is funded by the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund. The Reimbursement program is funded by grants from the MCM Fund, BNSF Railway Foundation, and First Interstate Bank Foundation.
We held 5 public meetings on Forest Service and ODF fuels reduction projects, home insurance regulations, state and county roads projects, and river flow management. If you have suggestions for future public meeting topics click on Contact UDRC.
Deschutes County hires new County Forester and Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator
Deschutes County has hired Kevin Moriarty as its new County Forester and Corinne Heiner as its new Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator.
As County Forester, Kevin Moriarty will lead the day-to-day operations of the County’s Natural Resources program, which focuses on fire prevention, mitigation and preparedness. The program also provides education and support to landowners for noxious weed control.
Corinne will facilitate fire adapted community strategies through the management of the Firewise Communities Program and will work closely with the community and partners to prepare, revise and implement Community Wildfire Protection Plans. She will also support educational opportunities for county residents and stakeholders.
Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant
The Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant is a competitive opportunity open to local governments, including special districts, structural fire service agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Those eligible can apply for wildfire risk reduction projects, equipment, and staff to support local efforts. The projects funded by this grant will help protect people, property, and communities from wildfire through risk reduction programs. These efforts will better prepare communities for wildfire impacts and create a more fire-adapted Oregon.
The OSFM is hosting an educational grant clinic on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. Click the links below to enter the meeting. No registration is necessary. Applications close on January 31, 2023.
- Apply Here
- Application Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions
- December 22, 2022 clinic recording
- January 12, 2023 at 2 p.m. clinic link
- Educational Webinar Recording
Oregon Revised Action Plan and Timeline for Wildfire Protection
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) today 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. Click here for more information.
Statewide Wildfire Risk Map Withdrawn
As required by SB 762, Oregon Department of Forestry posted a wildfire risk map on the Oregon Explorer on June 30, 2022 and sent notifications to property owners in the extreme and high risk classifications shortly after. In response to input received since posting, we have decided to remove the current iteration of the wildfire risk map from the Oregon Explorer and withdraw the notices sent. We will immediately begin working with Oregon State University on some refinements to improve the accuracy of risk classification assignments based on what we’ve heard from property owners thus far.
Since we are withdrawing the initial map and notifications, the current appeals process will end and any appeals filed will become moot. For those who did submit an appeal, we will be reviewing the information submitted and using it to identify any additional areas where we may need to take a closer look at the data.
USFS Fuels Reduction Projects Proposals
Oregon Department of Forestry Assistance for Defensible Space Projects in DRRH 1-5 & 9 Communities
Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District is accepting applications from landowners in DRRH 1-5 & 9 communities interested in completing fuel reduction projects around their homes. Specific treatments within these project areas which are eligible for cost-share incentives include thinning of overstocked and diseased juniper and pine stands, pruning limbs on residual trees, mastication of brush and small trees, and chipping materials or burning piles onsite to remove the excess woody debris. Landowners must provide a 25% match for work completed. This match can come through in-kind labor (work performed by the landowner). Historically underserved populations, including elderly and lower income applicants, will receive priority consideration for their applications. Additionally, Oregon Department of Forestry will be providing chipping opportunities for all landowners in these communities.
Landowners who are interested in applying for cost-share for fuel reduction on their property or who would like to having chipping work completed to dispose of vegetative materials can visit https://odfcentraloregongrantinformation.blogspot.com/ for more information or contact Ross Huffman (541-549-2731).
Reporting Graffiti or Illegal Dump Sites
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office inmate work crews have been actively involved in the community by removing graffiti and cleaning up large collections of litter from property throughout Deschutes County. Click here to report graffiti or illegal dump sites in Deschutes County.
USFS Klone Vegetation Management Project
The Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District released a draft environmental assessment for the nearly 35,000-acre Klone Vegetation Management Project south of Bend for a 30-day public comment period. The 34,636-acre planning area is located south of Bend and east of Sunriver. About 10,550 acres on the west side of the planning area are within the wildland urban interface designated by the Upper Deschutes River Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The east side of the planning area borders Newberry National Volcanic Monument.
The purpose of the project is to improve forest resilience against uncharacteristically large disturbance events such as wildfire, insects, and disease through treatments such as thinning and fuels reduction. The project proposes to manage vegetation through silviculture techniques and prescribed fire, and to restore areas through road closures. The Forest Service’s environment assessment can be accessed on the Deschutes National Forest project website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57735.
Comments may be submitted electronically to comments-pacificnorthwest-deschutes-bend-ftrock@usda.gov. Please put “Klone” in the subject line of your email. Comments must be submitted as part of the actual e-mail message, or as an attachment in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), rich text format (.rtf), or portable document format (.pdf) only.
USFS 42 Road Wildfire Resilience Project
The Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District is initiating an environmental analysis for the 42 Road GNA Wildfire Resilience Project located on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest. The project area is west of La Pine State Park near Fall River Hatchery and Wake Butte. Click here to view the Scoping Letter. For additional questions, please contact Alicia Underhill, Environmental Coordinator, by email at alicia.underhill@usda.gov or by phone at 541-383-4012.
UDRC Defensible Space Program Featured In Midstate Electric Ruralite Article
The organization’s goal is to lessen the impact of wildfires on people’s lives and lifestyles, on their properties and structures, and on the natural resources of the area, including water, trees and wildlife habitat. “Fires can have a serious impact on communities,” says Jerry Hubbard, president of UDRC and a board member of the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District. “There’s been a positive response to the UDRC program. It’s a good incentive to get people to clean up their property.” Click here to read the article.