Oregon Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map
Over the last decade, fire seasons have become longer and more challenging. At the same time, Oregon’s population continues to grow and increasing numbers of people are living in housing that is in or near forests, rangelands and other vegetation, called the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI).
In response to these factors as well as the devastating 2020 Labor Day fires, the Oregon legislature passed a series of bipartisan bills in 2021 and 2023 to help Oregonians improve their wildfire preparedness.
As a result, wildfire scientists at Oregon State University have been developing a map that characterizes wildfire hazard for each property across the state. This wildfire hazard map is being developed with the best science and data available and incorporates the expertise of more than 50 fire and fuels professionals from around the state.
The ultimate goal of the map is to help people across Oregon better prepare for future wildfires.
How will the map be used?
The map WILL be used to:
- Improve the safety and wellbeing of communities across Oregon.
- Help Oregonians understand the wildfire hazard in their community.
- Help public agencies objectively prioritize wildfire hazard reduction efforts.
- Implement statewide strategy to improve wildfire resilience.
The map will NOT be used to:
- Adjust insurance rates (by insurers).
- Make landowners modify their existing homes unless significant updates are planned for structures within high hazard areas in the WUI.
Once completed later this year, the statewide wildfire hazard map will allow individuals, state agencies, Tribes, and organizations to make informed choices and improve efforts to mitigate future damage to Oregon communities.
Who's Involved and How?
The development and implementation of Oregon’s statewide wildfire hazard map is a collaborative multi-agency effort. Learn more about each agency's role in the development of the map, and how they will use it in the future below:
Oregon State University
Oregon State University (OSU) is responsible specifically for technical development of the map, utilizing multiple data points based on the best available wildfire science. OSU will distribute the final map via the online tool, Oregon Explorer, and will be responsible for updating the map every five years, or as future policy requires.
Oregon Department of Forestry
Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is responsible for policy development, interagency collaboration and the public engagement process regarding the map, including the homeowner notifications and appeals process.
Oregon State Fire Marshal
The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is responsible for developing a defensible space code applied to properties in the high hazard class within the wildland-urban interface (WUI) across the state. Only structures located inside the WUI and on a high hazard property will potentially be subject to the defensible space codes. Defensible space helps protect lives and structures in the event of a wildfire and creates more resilient homes, people and communities.
Department of Consumer and Business Services
Within the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS), two divisions are doing work related to the statewide wildfire risk: the Building Codes Division (BCD) and the Division of Financial Regulation (DFR). BCD is responsible for adopting home hardening construction standards for new development and significant home updates in high wildfire hazard areas in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). DFR is the state insurance regulator and offers help to consumers about wildfires and insurance coverage.
How Can You Get Involved?
Landowners and communities across Oregon play an important role in wildfire preparedness, and many have already taken active steps to help create fire-adapted communities.
What's Happening Now
The above state agencies are working together with landowners and communities across the state to reduce wildfire risk and help Oregonians make informed decisions about their property. Oregon State University will refine the statewide wildfire hazard map following a continued public process that includes:
Rulemaking Advisory Committee Meetings (Spring 2024)
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting discussions will inform ODF on how additional changes may be included in map revisions within the direction provided by legislation. In spring 2024, a rulemaking advisory committee was formed with a focus on providing input regarding whether irrigation for farmland and agricultural crops might be incorporated into the calculations for wildfire hazard assessments. Visit ODF’s Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) website for more information including dates, agendas, and meeting recordings.
Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map Resource Fairs (Summer 2024)
More information coming soon.
Further details about upcoming meetings and opportunities to learn more will be posted here as they become available.