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The national database of state and local wildfire hazard mitigation programs
serves as a clearinghouse of information about nonfederal policies and
programs that seek to reduce the risk of loss of life and property through
the reduction of hazardous fuels on private lands. If
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Title: |
Deschutes and Jackson Counties, OR -- Implementing the Forestland Urban Interface Fire Protection Act
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Type: |
Regulatory
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Jurisdiction: |
County
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State: |
Oregon
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Program Description: |
Deschutes and Jackson Counties, OR � Implementation of SB360
The Oregon Forestland Urban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997, more commonly called SB 360, began implementation in two high fire risk counties in 2004. Those two counties are Jackson County in southwestern Oregon and Deschutes County, in south central Oregon. The program is being implemented by the Oregon Department of Forestry ( ODF) on a county by county basis. In 2005 Klamath and Douglas Counties will begin implementation. A description of the program and samples of all the forms are accessible on the Oregon Forestland Urban Interface Fire Protection website.
Preparing for Implementation
Many tasks needed to be completed before the first letters of notification went out to homeowners. The forestland-urban interface identification and classification process needed to be completed; a district coordinator had to be in place to manage the program at the county/ODF district level; dedicated phone lines/postal addresses had to be in place; a data management system, to create mailing lists and to track property owner certification card returns, had to be created for each county; accredited assessor training sessions needed to have been held so a list of assessors was available for landowners who wanted their assistance; and homeowner self-help guides, property evaluation forms and certification cards for the counties had to be available. Additionally, prior to the mailing of the notifications, the ODF district coordinator contacted local news media, elected officials, and fire service cooperators about the letters to alert them that they may receive calls from property owners.
Notification and Certification
The letters to homeowners were sent out in late 2004 and early 2005. The letters inform the property owner that he/she is located in a forestland-urban interface area, classified as moderate, high, extreme, or high-density extreme. The letter contains a information pertaining to the requirements for fuel modification for the applicable classification and a Certification Form which must be signed by either the property owner or an accredited assessor and returned to ODF. This is a self-certification process, there are no ODF inspectors. Copies of the certification cards and applicable sections of the law are available on the Forms and Publications page. In signing the certification form the property owner is certifying that his property meets the requirements for fuels modification around his home. He has two years from the date of notification to complete the necessary work and return the form. Thereafter, re-certification will need to be done every 5 years.
Accredited Assessors
For assistance with the certification form, property owners may call ODF or an accredited assessor. An accredited assessor is someone who can evaluate a residential property for compliance with the Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act's fuel-reduction standards; write a plan for work that needs to be done, perform that work, and sign a property owner's certification card.
There are 3 types of assessors. Type 1 assessors are licensed construction or landscape contractors with either two years of wildland fire prevention or suppression experience. Type 1 assessors may charge a fee to certify the property. Type 2 assessors are authorized agents of structural fire service providers with at least 2 years of wildland fire experience. Type 3 assessors are authorized agents of a homeowners association with at least 2 years experience in either wildland fire prevention or suppression, or forest management. Type 2 and Type 3 assessors are barred by law from charging a fee for assessments. All certified assessors are trained by ODF in a one day training program which is offered several times a year.
Contact Information
For more information on the implementation of SB 360 in Jackson County, contact, via email, Brian Ballou, or by phone at 541-665-0662.
For information on implementation of SB 360 in Deschutes County, contact, via email, Tom Andrade, or by phone at 541-549-6761.
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