A sign of La Pine partnership’s new steps to reduce wildfire risk: inmate crew clears abandoned homeless camp
(Update: Adding video, comments from coalition, sheriff's office)
LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ)— Despite still being six months from Oregon's next wildfire season, the Newberry Regional Partnership and government agencies have banded together to reduce wildfire risk in La Pine.
"We can't let a day go by that we're not working on this and trying to improve the public safety and the public health aspect," said Kathy DeBone, community coordinator with the Newberry Regional Partnership.
Early Wednesday, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office inmate work crews were out in south La Pine, cleaning up an abandoned homeless encampment.
Sgt. Kyle Kalmbach said, "We have flammable material out here that can contribute to forest fires, but also hypodermic needles and other dangerous stuff. And so getting that removed, out of the way for our citizens so they can enjoy nature for what it's worth."
It's part of a new coalition bringing local, state, and federal agencies together with community members to help prevent wildfires and create solutions for the homeless.
La Pine City Manager Geoff Wullschlager said, "These jurisdictions have to work with one another and overlap and find solutions together. (It) presents a circumstance where people might have more understanding and appreciation as to why it's not as simple as just pointing a finger."
Since the Darlene 3 Fire, citizens have voiced concern over homeless camps on BLM land and the risks that come with them, as many presumed a homeless encampment caused the blaze, though that was never confirmed by officials.
DeBone said, "The top, No. 1 concern that this community has around growth and change is the illegal camping on public lands and the threat of wildfire."
Inmate work crews have also been cleaning up illegal camps located in the northern part of La Pine, collecting nearly 2,000 needles alone.
As a result, sheriff's deputies say residents feel much more safe in their neighborhoods.
"We hope that people feel better and feel safer about this upcoming summer," Kalmbach said. "They know that they can go on a vacation and not worry about their house burning down, or that they can go enjoy public lands and not have to worry about garbage."
