“We have fire years, not fire seasons”. Oregon Wildfire Initiatives Get Federal Help! Not Forgotten….In Fact, We’re on the Radar

The State of Oregon, notably Southern Oregon, got a surprise visit and a surprise gift this last week. Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley welcomed U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to Oregon to tour historic investments the Department is making to bolster wildfire resilience, the outdoor recreation economy, and the Klamath Basin. 

As a cherry on top, at a media event in Central Point’s Oregon Department of Forestry’s Cabin-esque crewhouse and department command center. A cool spot and a perfect setting for Haaland to announce that $21 million is on its way to Oregon to help reduce the risk of wildfires.

Merkley serves as Chair of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, overseeing the budget for the Department of the Interior (DOI), which includes the National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and several other federal agencies that manage America’s public lands, waters, wildlife, and tribal affairs.

“Oregon is the most scenic state in the nation, and I’m thrilled Secretary Haaland accepted my invitation to see it firsthand because the Department of the Interior plays a huge role in ensuring our beautiful public lands and waters stay accessible and protected for Oregonians and visitors alike,” Merkley said. “As Chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I am in the driver’s seat to make sure funds are being invested in Oregon to protect communities across the state from wildfire threats, protect our iconic waters, and ensure we are meeting our trust responsibilities to tribes. I want to thank Secretary Haaland for visiting Oregon and meeting with key partners in the state, and for her whole staff’s exceptional attention to the needs of our public lands and communities.”

“With millions of acres of public lands in the state, the Department of the Interior recognizes how important Oregon’s outdoor spaces are. Investing in wildland fire preparedness, bolstering the outdoor recreation economy, and working with Tribal Nations are steadfast commitments of the Biden-Harris administration in our mission to protect and conserve our lands and waters,” said Secretary Haaland. “I thank Chairman Merkley for hosting us and sharing the striking beauty and history of Oregon.”

In recognition of the importance of the government-to-government relationships, Senator Merkley and Secretary Haaland convened a tribal listening session at the High Desert Museum as their first event of the tour to hear directly from the leaders of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes.  

Haaland has high hopes for this financial infusion in terms of resilience, help for first responders, education, and community involvement. She said the money will go toward completing fuels management work on more than 170,000 acres in the state. “We’re like fire years instead of fire seasons anymore,” Haaland said. “I know that Oregon, unfortunately, knows this all too well, with so little room for error.”

Oregon is also among 13 states that will benefit from a pilot program supporting projects aimed at fuel reduction — that is, reducing vegetation that can fuel fires — on private lands. “We must remain steadfast in our commitment to wildland fire preparedness, mitigation and resilience,” she said. “We at the Department of the Interior are doing everything we can to work with the states, Tribes, and local governments to reduce these risks and support the firefighting workforce.”

A fantastic visit with a practical boost at the end is an ideal situation. Oregon is a state of individuals but we are smart enough to ask for help when needed. In this case, working with big government was – and is going to continue to be --a huge success.