Opposition to wildfire risk map grows

SALEM – Oregon Republican legislators have introduced a bill that would repeal the wildfire risk map. Also this week, Morrow County commissioners voted to write to the Oregon Legislature voicing their objections to the map.

Morrow County Assessor Mike Gorman noted that he encountered opposition to the map while attending a regional meeting of the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) last fall..

“Of the commissioners that attended and gave testimony, all but two were really opposed to this map,” Gorman said. “This process is very unpopular statewide.”

The AOC is not on record as officially opposing the map. The regional meeting was comprised of representatives from Morrow, Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler counties.

The GOP lawmakers called the map flawed saying it is riddled with inaccuracies and threatens property values and livelihoods of rural homeowners. House Bill 3944 repeals both the map and the “extreme regulations it places on landowners and homeowners,” according to a news release by the Republicans.

HB 3944 requires state agencies to focus wildfire efforts in areas that are most cost effective and to protect as many resources as possible. The bill also protects access to financial resources that rural communities can use to safeguard their homes.

“Oregonians deserve real solutions, not more government overreach,” Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) said. “This new legislation is a unified effort by Republican legislators to repeal the deeply flawed wildfire hazard maps and restore fairness for over 100,000 homeowners.”

Rep. Bobby Levy (R-Echo), who is also a farmer, agreed.

“Instead of threatening Oregonians with unfair mandates, this bill (HB 3944) incentivizes local communities and homeowners to take responsible protective measures to protect their properties, creating a plan that will actually keep Oregonians safe,” she said.

The bill is now before the House Climate, Energy, and Environment Committee. No hearings or work sessions have been announced. The clock is ticking. Late next week, bills that have not been referred out of committee are considered dead for the current session.

Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect the nature of the AOC meeting thanks to information provided by that organization.

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