Ongoing devastation caused by the Southern California wildfires has left Central Oregonians questioning whether this was the result of avoidable mismanagement or of unavoidable misfortune. How much are we at risk of experiencing the same fate?
Los Angeles has an estimated one million acres of highly flammable, rapidly resprouting chaparral shrubland surrounding the city and over a million more flammable houses within the city. This, coupled with nonstop 60 to 70 mph Santa Ana winds and an already dry climate, created a flamethrower effect that made both preventing and firefighting last month’s 24-day-long conflagrations nearly impossible.
Similarly, Central Oregon is surrounded by 1.6 million acres of Deschutes National Forest, has east winds coming in from the Cascades at up to 50 mph, and is in a dry high desert climate; however, when asked if the same events could transpire here, Bret Michalski, professor of forest resource technology at Central Oregon Community College, said, “It’s kind of unlikely. Not impossible, but unlikely.”
Michalski explained that in its most populous areas, Central Oregon’s fire regime, or its fire frequency, intensity, and severity, is classified as low to moderate. Fires here are more frequent but rarely severe due to underbrush and natural fuels burning away between blazes. In contrast, LA has a fire-adapted ecosystem with a frequent and severe fire regime.
Further, in the past 25 to 30 years, Deschutes County has committed to reducing naturally occurring fuels through prescribed burning, trimming, and mowing treatments which have formed barriers between dense forests and dense population centers. Action is still required to collectively promote public safety, however, and as citizens, it is important to be aware of the fire policies of local representatives to ensure the right steps continue to be taken.
As property owners and renters, it is also important to make sure our own yards are well maintained and clear of debris. Noah Chemtov, local insurance agent, said, “Not only can natural fuel sources jeopardize your safety, but if your landlord is now faced with higher insurance premiums because their property is upkept, then it’s very likely that part of those costs could be passed on to the tenant in rent increase.”
Central Oregon’s fire risk has been met with equal preparedness, and with collective issue awareness, we can make certain this reality remains.