Bend, OR – As Oregon lawmakers continue to deliberate changes to the state’s wildfire hazard map policy, a growing number of residents are voicing opposition, arguing that the map should be scrapped altogether. On Tuesday, a group of concerned citizens gathered outside the state Capitol to protest the new policy, which has sparked significant controversy in wildfire-prone regions.
The wildfire hazard map, a tool designed to identify areas most at risk of wildfire, classifies properties based on their proximity to wildlands such as forests and grasslands. Those living in the highest-risk areas face new regulations aimed at mitigating the dangers of wildfires. However, many homeowners argue that these measures could drive down property values and lead to unintended consequences.
Although state law prohibits insurance companies from using the hazard map to raise rates for homeowners, some fear that insurers may still find ways to increase premiums, despite legal safeguards. This concern has fueled frustration among residents, many of whom feel that the state’s approach is misguided.
Josephine County Commissioner Ron Smith has been outspoken in his criticism of the policy. Smith argues that the money allocated to the wildfire hazard map would be better spent on local fire districts, which have the expertise and knowledge to manage wildfire risks. “I would like to see them take the money that they’re going to dump down, put downstream to the counties, give it to the counties and let us take care of it with our fire districts,” Smith said. “Our fire districts are already knowledgeable, they know how to do this. It will put local people to work doing clearing of land and everything like that.”
In response to the outcry, Governor Tina Kotek recently paused the appeals process for homeowners in high-hazard urban-wildland interface zones. This move provides lawmakers with more time to review the policy and consider potential changes.
For now, homeowners in the affected areas are left to navigate a policy that many believe is both costly and ineffective. As the debate over the wildfire hazard map continues, Oregon’s residents and lawmakers are left grappling with how best to address the growing threat of wildfires while balancing local concerns and economic realities.
