Southern Oregon is wildfire country. In the last five years
about one-third of the 325,000-acre Tiller Ranger District has been blackened
by wildfire. This year, the Stouts Creek Fire has already burned over 25,000
and was 82 percent contained on August 22, 2015. Locals here know about living
with wildfire. They have learned that adapting to wildfire means getting to
know your neighbors and that potlucks are the perfect place talk about being a
fire-adapted community.
When the Stouts Creek Fire was threatening homes east of the
community of Azalea, fire managers were pleased to learn that Milo, Tiller, and
Upper Cow Creek Road were designated FireWise Communities. Being Firewise means
homeowners have taken significant steps to make their homes defensible from a
wildfire. After several years of hard work, 14 homes and several roads
including Upper Cow Creek Rd have defensible space and have joined the dozen
other recognized FireWise communities in Douglas County.
community of Azalea, fire managers were pleased to learn that Milo, Tiller, and
Upper Cow Creek Road were designated FireWise Communities. Being Firewise means
homeowners have taken significant steps to make their homes defensible from a
wildfire. After several years of hard work, 14 homes and several roads
including Upper Cow Creek Rd have defensible space and have joined the dozen
other recognized FireWise communities in Douglas County.
The maxim of many hands makes light work applies. Grant
resources, program support and technical assistance came from the Douglas
Forest Protective Association, the Umpqua National Forest, Douglas County
Public Works, the Phoenix Charter School and others. At the grassroots level,
neighbors did not just come together on their own. There was a spark, a
catalyst, someone who overcame the inertia and fostered change. That person was
Kathy Staley of Upper Cow Creek Rd.
resources, program support and technical assistance came from the Douglas
Forest Protective Association, the Umpqua National Forest, Douglas County
Public Works, the Phoenix Charter School and others. At the grassroots level,
neighbors did not just come together on their own. There was a spark, a
catalyst, someone who overcame the inertia and fostered change. That person was
Kathy Staley of Upper Cow Creek Rd.
“The Umpqua National Forest is part of our community,” said
Kathy Staley. “Donna Owens, Tiller District Ranger, made it easy for us. We
hold regular potlucks and Donna and her staff began attending. As we got to
know one another we naturally broadened our circle of care to include those who
work for the Forest Service,” she explained.
Kathy Staley. “Donna Owens, Tiller District Ranger, made it easy for us. We
hold regular potlucks and Donna and her staff began attending. As we got to
know one another we naturally broadened our circle of care to include those who
work for the Forest Service,” she explained.
“Prior to these gatherings, the relationship with the Umpqua
NF was often adversarial. It helped that Ranger Owens was willing to say the
tough but honest things,” Staley said. “That built trust in the eyes of the
community members.”
NF was often adversarial. It helped that Ranger Owens was willing to say the
tough but honest things,” Staley said. “That built trust in the eyes of the
community members.”
Clearly motivated, Kathy explained that her career as an
engineering inspector gave her a sharp and critical eye.
engineering inspector gave her a sharp and critical eye.
“I saw a need,” she explained. “I’m relatively new to the
community. We learned that there were grants available to help pay for removing
the brush and small trees to make our homes safer from wildfire,” she said. The
grant funds and other monies helped pay for road crews removing roadside brush.
community. We learned that there were grants available to help pay for removing
the brush and small trees to make our homes safer from wildfire,” she said. The
grant funds and other monies helped pay for road crews removing roadside brush.
“Red Apple Road used to be tight with brush,” explained
Kathy Pack of Upper Cow Creek Road. “It made me nervous thinking about driving
it during a wildfire. Getting the roads and houses cleared of brush out really
gave me piece of mind,” she said.
Kathy Pack of Upper Cow Creek Road. “It made me nervous thinking about driving
it during a wildfire. Getting the roads and houses cleared of brush out really
gave me piece of mind,” she said.
Once the neighbors learned that they could meet their
commitment by contributing their time, the idea spread like creamy peanut
butter. Using the county’s road crew and students from the Phoenix Charter
School, they were able conduct defensible space activities at more than a dozen
homes—removing brush and small trees and pruning up the branches on larger trees
to make the homes safer from wildfire.
commitment by contributing their time, the idea spread like creamy peanut
butter. Using the county’s road crew and students from the Phoenix Charter
School, they were able conduct defensible space activities at more than a dozen
homes—removing brush and small trees and pruning up the branches on larger trees
to make the homes safer from wildfire.
“We’ve owned this piece of land for 30 years,” said Jim
Pack. “I planted all the trees myself and each one has a name. This place is a
dream come true for me. Making it safer from wildfire was just something we had
to do. We have too much at stake to live with the risk of it burning.”
Pack. “I planted all the trees myself and each one has a name. This place is a
dream come true for me. Making it safer from wildfire was just something we had
to do. We have too much at stake to live with the risk of it burning.”
Just as local residents gave their time, staff from the
Tiller Ranger District understood they had to do the same. “The relationship
building just took time,” said Terry Brown, Fire Management Officer, Tiller
Ranger District. “The relationships we have with the community are the most
valuable results from this process.”
Tiller Ranger District understood they had to do the same. “The relationship
building just took time,” said Terry Brown, Fire Management Officer, Tiller
Ranger District. “The relationships we have with the community are the most
valuable results from this process.”
The Douglas Forest Protective Association formed the third
leg of the FireWise triangle. FireWise Coordinator Dennis Sifford advises
communities on becoming FireWise.
leg of the FireWise triangle. FireWise Coordinator Dennis Sifford advises
communities on becoming FireWise.
“The program helps make homeowners aware of the risks and
teaches them about the little things they can do to help their homes survive a
wildfire,” said Dennis.
teaches them about the little things they can do to help their homes survive a
wildfire,” said Dennis.
Wildfire is a frequent visitor to southern Oregon. Building
resilience and adapting to wildfire depends on knowing your neighbors, widening
the circle of care and finding the catalysts in the community who can make
things happen. In these Firewise communities, these grass roots efforts have clearly
paid off.
resilience and adapting to wildfire depends on knowing your neighbors, widening
the circle of care and finding the catalysts in the community who can make
things happen. In these Firewise communities, these grass roots efforts have clearly
paid off.
“When I learned that the residents of Upper Cow Creek Road
were designated FireWise, I was more confident that we could protect the homes
and that our firefighters would come home safely,” explained Steve Bowen,
Structural Liaison for the Stouts Creek Fire.
Contacts:
were designated FireWise, I was more confident that we could protect the homes
and that our firefighters would come home safely,” explained Steve Bowen,
Structural Liaison for the Stouts Creek Fire.
Contacts:
Marcus Kauffman, ODF, Stouts Creek Fire Information: 541-825-3724; Cell: 206-402-7175
Kyle Reed, DFPA, 541-672-6507 X 136 Cell: 541-817-7186