With the governor’s signing of Senate Bill 80 (2023) in July, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) began to put in motion a month-long statewide outreach effort to incorporate county input and expertise into a new Wildfire Hazard Map.

AOC successfully advocated for this increased county involvement and representation in the mapping process during the 2023 legislative session and hopes these efforts will result in a well-received and accurate final product.

Pursuant to statute, ODF and AOC will host eight regional Wildfire Hazard Map meetings throughout the state beginning the first week of September, in conjunction with AOC’s eight annual district meetings.

Two weeks prior to their scheduled meeting each region will be provided a draft map for review by county technical staff – planning directors, emergency managers, and administrators.

During the meetings, ODF and state agency representatives will walk through identified areas of concern with county representatives. ODF will provide reasoning for any areas of concern that are unable to be alleviated.

These Wildfire Mapping County Meetings are broken down in the following way.

  • AOC District 5: Benton, Lane, and Linn County
    • Friday, September 8 in Eugene (Lane County).
  • AOC District 7: Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, and Tillamook County
    • Friday, September 15 in Tillamook (Tillamook County).
  • AOC District 4: Coos, Curry, Douglas, Josephine County
    • Monday, September 18 in Grants Pass (Josephine County).
  • AOC District 2: Crook, Deschutes, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, and Lake County
    • Thursday, September 21 in Klamath Falls (Klamath County).
  • AOC District 3: Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler County
    • Thursday, September 28 in Moro (Sherman County)
  • AOC District 1: Baker, Grant, Malheur, Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa County
    • Friday, September 29 in Pendleton (Umatilla County)
  • AOC District 8: Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas County
    • Wednesday, October 4, in Hillsboro (Washington County)
  • AOC District 6: Marion, Polk, and Yamhill County
    • Friday, October 6, in Dallas (Polk County)

Governor Kotek has directed all the necessary and appropriate individuals from the executive branch to travel to each regional meeting to participate in person and ensure a thorough and productive process. AOC expects the following state partners to join county commissioners and staff:

Oregon Department of Forestry:

  • Cal Mukumoto; State Forester (Availability limited)
  • Derrick Wheeler; Legislative Coordinator
  • Tim Holschbach; Deputy Chief, Policy and Planning
  • Derek Gasperini; Public Affairs Officer

Oregon State University:

  • Chris Dunn; Research Associate, Department of Forest Engineering
  • Andy McEvoy; Research Assistant

Oregon State Fire Marshal:

  • Mariana Riuz-Temple; State Fire Marshal
  • Claire McGrew; Fire Protection Risk Administrator
  • Chad Hawkins; Fire Protection Risk Manager

Department of Consumer and Business Services:

  • Andrew Stolfi, Director and Chief Insurance Officer, DCBS
  • Alex Chang; Deputy Administrator DCBS
  • Eric Cutler; Section Manager, DCBS
  • Alana Cox; Building Codes Division Administrator
  • Eric McMullen; Senior Building Code Specialist

Contributed by: Branden Pursinger | Legislative Affairs Manager