North Powder Rural Fire Protection District Receives Grant to Aid with Wildfire Risk Reduction
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Friday, May 12th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
NORTH POWDER – The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced the recipients of its competitive $18-million Community Wildfire Risk Reduction (CWRR) Grant. These funds will help communities across Oregon reach their goals of improving wildfire resiliency, using local programs and solutions.
Among the many recipients was the North Powder Rural Fire Protection District (NPRFPD). According to Chief Colby Thompson with NPRFPD, the funds will be used to purchase new equipment to aid with creating defensible space around homes, this will support wildfire risk reduction.
The grant for NPRFPD is in the amount of $220,200.00 and will be used to purchase a Skid Steer, brush mower and woodchipper. Once they have the equipment crews will go to properties and help make homes more defensible against wildfire. The funds will also give the department funds to operate this program for three years.
Thompson says that all appliances were able to write requests based on their particular needs.
In a release from the Oregon State Fire Marshall it was noted that Projects were prioritized by the following criteria:
· Impact in high wildfire-risk regions
· Communities with high social vulnerability
· Those in and around the built environment
· Providing defensible space and community resiliency
· Protecting people and communities
· Geographically diverse projects to ensure all areas of the state have the resources to improve community wildfire risk reduction and better prepare communities.
