As more people move to areas of Deschutes County that butt up against the forest, the risk of a catastrophic loss of life or property from a wildfire increases as well.
Because of that, Deschutes County is discussing additional building and zoning rules for homes near the edge of the forest.
During a work session on Wednesday afternoon, the Deschutes County Commission discussed wildfire mitigation in rural parts of the county, including options that ranged from strengthening restrictions of roofing materials to creating a separate layer of zoning for fire-prone areas.
“We have so many rural residences that this comes into play a lot,” said Commissioner Phil Henderson.
During the meeting, the commissioners acknowledged the fire risk for homes near the forest, but added that they didn’t want to burden homeowners or homebuilders with excessive regulation.
“I’d really want to know the pricing before we implement this,” Henderson said.