Oregon Department of Forestry hosts summit in Burns

By Mindy Gould on Monday, April 24th, 2023 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

Burns-(Released by Derek Shoun, BIFZ)This past week, Oregon Department of Forestry hosted in Burns a statewide summit for Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA) members, partners and agency reps.

RFPAs are essentially ‘neighbors helping neighbors’ – private, non-profit organizations established to help prevent and suppress fires on “unprotected” lands (those without federal or state jurisdiction). They are often the first line of defense in a wildfire situation.

The two-day meeting included, among other things:

*grant application tips and tricks;

*legislative and program updates;

*an Avenza map exercise;

*Community Wildfire Protection Plan discussions;

*sharing opportunities and ideas for continuous improvement; and,

*hearing updates from various RFPAs.

Burns Interagency Fire Zone states “We are proud of and grateful for the seven RFPAs in Harney County: Crane, Silver Creek, Lone Pine, Frenchglen, Fields/Andrews, North Harney and Wagontire.”