Public-Private Partnership Looks To Combat Wildfire Risk In Oregon, California

Last week, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that USDA is embarking on a new era to mitigate wildfire risk.

Secretary Rollins, USDA Forest Service Chief Randy Moore, and Sierra Pacific Industry CEO Mark Emmerson announced a $75 million Stewardship Agreement for constructing and maintaining strategically placed fuel breaks in national forests in Oregon and California.

This investment significantly expands upon unprecedented efforts to create a network of fuel breaks across private and federal land to protect rural communities, reduce wildfire risk, and pave the way for historic rural prosperity.

“Protecting the people and communities we serve is one of our most sacred trusts, and this partnership with Sierra Pacific Industries stands as a testament to that commitment,” said Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. “Our team estimates this groundbreaking public-private partnership will slash the time in half compared to the standard timeframe to complete this critical wildfire mitigation.”

The agreement provides for construction and maintenance of fuel breaks in Oregon, as well as initiating the process to develop, construct and maintain shaded fuel break projects over a three-year period in California, adding about 400 miles to the existing 2,200-mile network of interconnected fuel breaks across private and federal land.

“Sierra Pacific Industries is well-versed in what must be done to tackle the ongoing threats facing forests and towns in California and Oregon,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “This partnership will leverage our collective expertise to do strategically focused work and add to our broader collaboration on both prevention and post-fire restoration aimed at keeping our forests productive and healthy.”

Fire officials say fuel breaks have a 68% success rate in containing blazes when coupled with the proper suppression resources.

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