Taking on wildfire planning in Sisters

The public is invited to a kickoff presentation on Tuesday, February 20 at 9:30 a.m. at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Hall to learn how Sisters is working to address local wildfire challenges in the city.

Sisters is one of eight communities recently selected through a nationwide competitive process to participate in the 2017-18 Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) program.

"Our CPAW team was highly impressed with your application, and we believe the opportunity to provide assistance is well-timed with your community's goal," said a November 2017 letter to Patrick Davenport, community development director, announcing Sisters' selection.

Over the course of 2018 the City of Sisters will receive full assistance in addressing how to reduce local wildfire risks through improved land-use planning. The CPAW team who will be working with local officials consists of land-use planners, foresters, researchers, and wildfire-risk modeling specialists.

At the kickoff meeting, citizens will have the opportunity to meet the CPAW team members, hear about CPAW program goals, and ask questions and share comments.

During the year-long process, the CPAW team will work with local agencies, organizations, and experts in planning, fire, emergency management, and land management to develop customized planning recommendations for Sisters. These services are delivered at no cost to our community. The CPAW program is funded by grants from the U.S. Forest Service, the LOR Foundation, and other private foundations.

The CPAW process consists of four phases. The kickoff meeting, which will introduce the community to CPAW team members, is the first part of Phase 1 (November 2017-Februrary 2018). A Memorandum of Understanding will clarify roles and responsibilities of the parties involved. The team will begin to identify stakeholders and determine the scope of the program with an in-person site visit.

During Phase 2, team members will conduct a review of all relevant planning documents and schedule a second site visit to further assess local conditions with stakeholders (March-June 2018).

Based on stakeholder feedback and the CPAW team's analysis, detailed recommendations will be developed during Phase 3 (July-September 2018).

The planning process will culminate with Phase 4 (October-December 2018) with the CPAW team outlining findings and recommendations to improve Sisters' wildfire resilience through planning.

Ongoing implementation support is available from CPAW as needed and as funding allows. The City of Sisters retains authority of whether, when, and how to implement any recommendations. In addition, the City will also receive access to science and research by experts in fire, forestry, and planning.

Wasco County, Oregon was also selected as one of the eight communities to participate in the CPAW program. The other six communities are spread across the U.S.

Fire Chief Roger Johnson told City Council that the long-term solution to saving homes from the danger of wildfires is to make the community more resistant to fires by developing homes and subdivision that don't easily catch fire from ember showers on decks, roofs, and landscaping.

As development encroaches on the wildlands, homes are at greater fire risks, which presents challenges to the agencies charged with protecting the public from wildfire.

The CPAW process consists of four phases. The kickoff meeting, which will introduce the community to CPAW team members, is the first part of Phase 1 (November 2017-Februrary 2018). A Memorandum of Understanding will clarify roles and responsibilities of the parties involved. The team will begin to identify stakeholders and determine the scope of the program with an in-person site visit.

During Phase 2, team members will conduct a review of all relevant planning documents and schedule a second site visit to further assess local conditions with stakeholders (March-June 2018).

Based on stakeholder feedback and the CPAW team's analysis, detailed recommendations will be developed during Phase 3 (July-September 2018).

The planning process will culminate with Phase 4 (October-December 2018) with the CPAW team outlining findings and recommendations to improve Sisters' wildfire resilience through planning.

Ongoing implementation support is available from CPAW as needed and as funding allows. The City of Sisters retains authority of whether, when, and how to implement any recommendations. In addition, the City will also receive access to science and research by experts in fire, forestry, and planning.

Wasco County, Oregon was also selected as one of the eight communities to participate in the CPAW program. The other six communities are spread across the U.S.

Fire Chief Roger Johnson told City Council that the long-term solution to saving homes from the danger of wildfires is to make the community more resistant to fires by developing homes and subdivision that don't easily catch fire from ember showers on decks, roofs, and landscaping.

As development encroaches on the wildlands, homes are at greater fire risks, which presents challenges to the agencies charged with protecting the public from wildfire.