New Oregon council to examine wildfire-fighting strategies
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Plagued by wildfires in recent years, Oregon will now evaluate the effectiveness of its system to combat the blazes.
Gov. Kate Brown said Wednesday she’s issued an executive order establishing the Oregon Wildfire Response Council. It is to evaluate Oregon’s current system of response to large fires.
The council must issue a report in September 2019 to make recommendations for the future of Oregon’s wildfire response infrastructure.
Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger Jr., of Grants Pass, said he’s encouraged by the governor’s actions. He said the state should take a serious look at how it manages its forests, including creating a 100-year plan to prevent massive fires from occurring in the first place.
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News release :
Governor Kate Brown Signs Executive Order Creating the Oregon Wildfire Response Council
(Medford, OR) — Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order establishing the Oregon Wildfire Response Council and named Matt Donegan as Chair. The charge of the council is to evaluate Oregon’s current system of response to large fires, and determine whether or not the current model is the best possible way to defend Oregon from the threat of wildfires. The council will issue a report in September 2019 to make recommendations for the future of Oregon’s wildfire response infrastructure.
“Oregon’s firefighting approach leads the nation in effectiveness,” said Governor Brown. “However, wildfire dynamics are changing and it is never too soon to evaluate the approach to wildfire education, prevention, suppression, attack, and community recovery.”
The Governor also announced a major grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) to the Rogue Forest Restoration Partnership to receive the a Focused Investment Partnership (FIP) grant of $1.5 million, part of a $6 million pledge through 2025 to expedite dry forest restoration and wildfire fuels management on federal and non-federal lands.
READ: Executive Order 19-01
READ: All Executive Orders
