Even though fire season is over in our area for right now, the work doesn't stop there.
Thanks to a federal grant, the Oregon Department of Forestry is working to gear up for the next fire season in Lane County, creating defensible space in communities at risk of wildfires.
This year's fire season was a lot milder than we anticipated. However, you never know what to expect, as we've seen record breaking fire seasons in Oregon over the last 10 years. That's exactly why fire officials put such an emphasis on defensible space.
“It really comes down to that preventative maintenance every Spring before fire season really starts,” said Alex Rahmlow, the fire planning coordinator with ODF.
He says for the last 10 years, the department has been getting grants to help cut fuel reductions at homes in the wildland-urban interface, including about 100 homes each year in Lane County.