Northeast Oregon communities to receive millions in wildfire defense grants
By Joe Hathaway on Wednesday, May 15th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
NORTHEAST OREGON — Communities in Baker, Union and Gilliam counties will receive federal funds to strengthen wildfire defensives ahead of summer.
The U.S. Forest Service announced that Oregon will receive more than $24 million and Washington will receive more than $26.6 million in Community Wildfire Defense grant awards.
A total of 22 projects were funded across Oregon and Washington.
“The Forest Service is proud to partner with local communities through these vital grants,” said Jacque Buchanan, Regional Forester for the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service. “These grants empower communities to implement strategic wildfire mitigation projects, enhancing both their resilience and safety. By supporting initiatives like defensible space creation, fuel reduction, and community education, we are working together to safeguard lives, property, and our precious natural resources.”
In Oregon, more than $24 million in projects are being funded. The funded proposals in Northeast Oregon are:
Union County Firewise Community Resiliency Project
$1,372,153
Baker Firewise Community Resiliency Project
$579,672
City of Condon
City of Condon Fuel Breaks
$137,719
For descriptions of each funded proposal and more information, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants/funded-proposals
Funding from the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program is designed to assist communities, including Tribal communities, non-profit organizations, state forestry agencies and Alaska Native Corporations with planning for and mitigating wildfire risks to communities and critical infrastructure to help confront the nation’s wildfire crisis. The funding supports developing or revising Community Wildfire Protection Plans as well as completing projects that are identified in these plans. The program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and includes $1 billion to reduce wildfire risk over five years.
For more information about the Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r6.
