Wildfire Prevention Meeting

The Barlow Gate Grange, Wamic, hosted a Wildfire Prevention community meeting on October 22 that covered a wide range of topics. An estimated seventy-five people attended. 

Key highlights: 

• Communities need to increase preparedness and adapt – wildfires are a reality of living in our area.

• Local, county, and state agencies are working together on reducing brush and fire risk.

Here is a summary provided by the Wildfire Prevention Team:

Multiple speakers came together for a community wildfire preparedness event in Wamic on Saturday, October 22nd. The speaker line up featured Rick Lancaster from the U.S. Forest Service, Erick Finnell from Oregon Department of Forestry, Chief Eugene Walters from Juniper Flat RFPD, and Karla Martinez from the Department of Financial Regulation. 

The event was organized in partnership with the three fire departments in the area; Wamic RFPD, Tygh Valley RFPD, and Juniper Flat; as well as the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Community Risk Reduction Unit, represented by Simone Cordery-Cotter. The Barlow Gate Grange in Wamic hosted the event.

The main topic of the meeting covered how state and federal agencies, local fire departments, and community members are all working to be as prepared as possible for next fire season. State and federal agencies are working hard to ensure that natural lands are managed for multiple benefits, including public safety and environmental goals. Even as this fire season draws to a close, state agencies want to encourage all Oregonians to take steps to ensure they are prepared for wildfire, from thinking about how to make their homes more resilient to wildfire to ensuring they have the necessary supplies for an evacuation and making sure their insurance policies are up to date.

Many helpful handouts were provided at the event (listed below). Please click on links below and visit the South Wasco Alliance “Resources” page to download the presentation and handouts.

• Real Time Severe Weather and Emergency Alert – Click here to register for citizen alerts.

• Disaster Preparedness Checklist. Click here to start building your disaster preparedness kit.

• Be Ready, Be Set, Go poster

• Pack a Go Bag and Evacuation Supplies List (for people and pets) 

• Financial Assistance Available for Forest Landowners

• Consumer Protection Insurance Information

• Consumer’s Guide to Home Insurance

• Commercial/Agriculture Insurance for Wildfire