1 Oregon Department of Forestry History History Fire Policy Fire Policy Organizational Structures and Funding Organizational Structures and Funding Final.

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Oregon Department of Oregon Department of Forestry Forestry

HistoryHistory

Fire PolicyFire Policy

Organizational Structures and FundingOrganizational Structures and Funding

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

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Historical PerspectiveHistorical Perspective

1902 - Western Oregon fires - >700,000 acres1902 - Western Oregon fires - >700,000 acres

1904 - Company fire patrols formed1904 - Company fire patrols formed

1911-12 - Oregon Fire Laws: Board of Forestry & first State Forester 1911-12 - Oregon Fire Laws: Board of Forestry & first State Forester Francis Elliott $60K budgetFrancis Elliott $60K budget

1913 - Compulsory Fire Patrol laws1913 - Compulsory Fire Patrol laws Mandated forest a protection system and the suppression of all firesMandated forest a protection system and the suppression of all fires Outlined LandownersOutlined Landowners’’ responsibility responsibility

Provide or pay for protectionProvide or pay for protection

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ORS 477.005ORS 477.005Forest Protection PolicyForest Protection Policy

(1) (1) ““The preservation of forests & the conservation of the forest The preservation of forests & the conservation of the forest resources through the prevention and the suppression of forest resources through the prevention and the suppression of forest fires hereby are declared to be the public policy of the State of fires hereby are declared to be the public policy of the State of Oregon.Oregon.””

(2) (a) (2) (a) ““The need for a Complete and Coordinated Forest The need for a Complete and Coordinated Forest Protection System is acknowledged and the primary mission of Protection System is acknowledged and the primary mission of the State Forestry Departmentthe State Forestry Department”” Primary Missions/Priorities:Primary Missions/Priorities:

Protection of lifeProtection of lifeProtecting forest resourcesProtecting forest resourcesStructural protection shall not inhibit forest resource Structural protection shall not inhibit forest resource

protectprotectionion

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ORS 477.064- Uncontrolled Fire ORS 477.064- Uncontrolled Fire declared nuisancedeclared nuisance

““Any fire on any forestland in Oregon burning uncontrolled or without Any fire on any forestland in Oregon burning uncontrolled or without proper action being taken to prevent its spread, not withstanding its proper action being taken to prevent its spread, not withstanding its origin, is declared a public nuisance by reason of its menace to life, origin, is declared a public nuisance by reason of its menace to life, forest resources or property.forest resources or property.””

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ORS 477.066- Duty of owner ORS 477.066- Duty of owner and operator to abate fire and operator to abate fire

““Each owner and operator of forestland on which a fire exists or from which it may Each owner and operator of forestland on which a fire exists or from which it may have spread, notwithstanding the origin or subsequent spread thereof, shall have spread, notwithstanding the origin or subsequent spread thereof, shall immediately proceed to control and extinguish such fire when its existence comes to immediately proceed to control and extinguish such fire when its existence comes to the knowledge of the owner or operator.the knowledge of the owner or operator.””

The state of Oregon policies are clear: Fires shall be extinguished to The state of Oregon policies are clear: Fires shall be extinguished to limit risks to the public and natural resources. limit risks to the public and natural resources. (ORS 477.005-.064) (ORS 477.005-.064) State Law.State Law.

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Organizational Organizational StructureStructure

3 Main Operating Divisions3 Main Operating Divisions (Fire, State Forest, and Private Forest)(Fire, State Forest, and Private Forest)

12 Forest Protection Districts 12 Forest Protection Districts 3 3 ““OperatingOperating”” Associations Associations

• DFPA, CFPA, Walker RangeDFPA, CFPA, Walker Range

““Complete & Coordinated SystemComplete & Coordinated System”” Member of PNWCGMember of PNWCG BLM westside contract: 2.3 million acresBLM westside contract: 2.3 million acres A coordination center linked to field dispatch centers (ODF, A coordination center linked to field dispatch centers (ODF,

interagency centers, and NWCC)interagency centers, and NWCC) 3 IMTs all have been through CIMC3 IMTs all have been through CIMC 3 Fire Cache Support Systems3 Fire Cache Support Systems

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What is the landscape?What is the landscape?

Approximately 32 million of acres of forestland Approximately 32 million of acres of forestland

ODF protects approximately half (16 million) ODF protects approximately half (16 million)

Unique compared to other states in the west.Unique compared to other states in the west.

Protection is largely intertwined with hundreds of thousands of Protection is largely intertwined with hundreds of thousands of

miles of boundaries.miles of boundaries.

Coordination and consideration of other agencies is critical.Coordination and consideration of other agencies is critical.

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How is the System How is the System Financed?Financed?

Based roughly on a partnership between the state and Based roughly on a partnership between the state and forest landowners (50:50) forest landowners (50:50)

• Clear expectation to limit costs to the state and forestland ownersClear expectation to limit costs to the state and forestland owners

• annually approx. $40 millionannually approx. $40 million

Large fire funding is shared between State General Fund Large fire funding is shared between State General Fund

and Landowners (OFLPF)and Landowners (OFLPF)

The State of Oregon is unique in that it carries a $25 million The State of Oregon is unique in that it carries a $25 million

private insurance policy private insurance policy

• Annual coverage for large fires is $50 million above the base level Annual coverage for large fires is $50 million above the base level

of protectionof protection

State General Fund also has severity funding via ORS State General Fund also has severity funding via ORS

477.777- This funds contracted helicopters and ATs477.777- This funds contracted helicopters and ATs

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Take-home messagesTake-home messages

Due to funding structures, missions, state laws, Due to funding structures, missions, state laws,

and ODFand ODF’’s relationships with our landowners… s relationships with our landowners… ODF will continue to be engaged with fires on our protection and also ODF will continue to be engaged with fires on our protection and also

fires and management decisions of other landownersfires and management decisions of other landowners

ODF is the private fire department and voice for forest landowners - ODF is the private fire department and voice for forest landowners -

We are their only protection insurance policyWe are their only protection insurance policy

Think in terms of your own home and the role of local city or rural fire Think in terms of your own home and the role of local city or rural fire

department department

ODF strives to limit damage or loss of resources on lands we protectODF strives to limit damage or loss of resources on lands we protect

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Take-home messagesTake-home messages

ODF operators a complete and coordinate protection ODF operators a complete and coordinate protection

system funded from limited sourcessystem funded from limited sources ODFODF’’s answer : Adequately fund the system to suppress fires at the s answer : Adequately fund the system to suppress fires at the

smallest possible size and limit risk to resources and our firefighters. smallest possible size and limit risk to resources and our firefighters.

Fully understand the need to treat fuels, reduce risks and Fully understand the need to treat fuels, reduce risks and restore ecosystems.restore ecosystems.

Likely differences occur in timing and methodsLikely differences occur in timing and methods

We firmly believe in a good neighbor policy. We firmly believe in a good neighbor policy. Up-front, clear communicationUp-front, clear communication Management decisions should not impact neighborsManagement decisions should not impact neighbors Good relationships are criticalGood relationships are critical

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The Future and The Future and ConsiderationsConsiderations

The key to everyoneThe key to everyone’’s success: Maintain tools s success: Maintain tools and funding to manage forests and restore and funding to manage forests and restore ecosystems. ecosystems.

Risks- Risks- • Unclear objectives that are not well understood by the public and Unclear objectives that are not well understood by the public and

policymakerspolicymakers

• Public and firefighter safety concerns Public and firefighter safety concerns

• Transferring of risks to other agencies and entitiesTransferring of risks to other agencies and entities

• Transferring costs to others Transferring costs to others

• Decisions that put entities in places where support cannot be Decisions that put entities in places where support cannot be given - a united voice is always better given - a united voice is always better

• Smoke impactsSmoke impacts

• ““Social LicenseSocial License””

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KeysKeys

Public understanding and clarity around mission, goals and Public understanding and clarity around mission, goals and objectives (sound bites)objectives (sound bites)

Internal and External understanding and relationshipsInternal and External understanding and relationships

CommunicationCommunication

Coordination of Decision MakingCoordination of Decision Making

Ultimately- the Ultimately- the ““Social LicenseSocial License”” to manage and protect to manage and protect public and private resourcespublic and private resources

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Input and thoughtsInput and thoughts

How do we resolve or work within federal objectives and policies How do we resolve or work within federal objectives and policies and state mandates and laws?and state mandates and laws?

How do actions of each agency impact objectives and laws? How do actions of each agency impact objectives and laws?

How do agencies limit transferring risk and costs due to How do agencies limit transferring risk and costs due to management decisions all while meeting objectives?management decisions all while meeting objectives?

What does being a What does being a ““good neighborgood neighbor”” mean to folks in the room? mean to folks in the room?

How do we collectively as decision makers maintain and enhance How do we collectively as decision makers maintain and enhance the the ““social licensesocial license”” management concept? management concept?