The Challenge of in Southwest SW Oregon is part of the Mixed Conifer forest, a fire prone environment 100 days with no rain is common Mixed Conifer Forested Areas1 in the Western Legend United States

Document generated by Rich Fairbanks on July 10, 2019 Qualitative Differences Between Types of Fire Low severity: <25 percent of overstory trees are killed, limited effects on soils

Moderate severity: 25–75 percent of overstory trees killed and/or moderate effects on soils

High severity: >75 percent of overstory trees killed and/or extensive mineral soil exposure • High frequency fires mean little surface fuel and therefore the fires were often of very low severity. The Forests of this Region evolved with frequent fire and eventually came to be dominated by species that depend on fire. Indigenous people also adapted to dry western forests. European Settlement Since passage of the Weeks Act of 1911 it is policy to fight . Suppression changed the structure and function of frequent-fire ecosystems. This created a 120 year buildup of fuels. Most of our houses are wood frame construction. In addition most rural homes are in dense young forest. In Jackson and Josephine Counties approximately 27,500 homes (25% of all homes) are at risk from wildfire. In 1996, the Hull was responsible for oneThey fatality Appear and to burned be Increasing 44 structures. in Ferocity In 2002, the burned nearly 500,000 acres and cost taxpayers $160 million. In 2010, the Oak Knoll Fire destroyed 11 homes and damaged others. 2017 Napa Fires destroyed about 8,900 structures, burned at least 245,000 acres, and caused the deaths of 44 people. In 2018 the burned 229,651 acres at Redding, destroyed 1,077 homes, and killed 3 firefighters and 5 civilians. destroyed the town of Paradise and killed 85 people. We learned that on top of the human tragedy, burned houses and cars exact a huge environmental price. The top 10 communities in Oregon with greatest cumulative housing-unit exposure to wildfire.

1 Merlin 4 Bend 8 Grants Pass 2 Redwood 5 Warm Springs 9 Ashland 3 Medford 6 Eagle Point 10 Prineville 7 Redmond Feds Capacity is Declining

The FS, BLM and NPS manage roughly half of Jackson & Josephine Counties.

Rogue & Siskiyou NF’s lost two thirds of it’s employees between 2002 and 2018. Fire behavior “Modeling conducted models predict a big to update the risk assessment for the problem Josephine & Jackson County Integrated Plans shows 57% of the landscape prone to passive or active canopy fires during weather conditions typical of large fire events.” We have begun to do treatments that greatly reduce crowning and torching, especially near structures. We are using low severity fire and fire surrogates (thin-pile-burn, pruning, etc.) to help build fire permeable forests and communities. As with the earlier inhabitants, we have made that same choice of nudging the forest toward low levels of fuel. The analysis has been done, with significant To Summarize local support and grounded in local values. Community Wildfire Plans, the Rogue Valley Integrated Fire Plan and the Rogue Basin Strategy point the The Science is clear that way. ecological thinning and controlled burns can change wildfire outcomes, but we have to ramp up to have that change in a meaningful timeframe. Thank You