Brush peril meeting topic on Tuesday
A public meeting about the identification and classification of forestland-urban interface lands in Illinois Valley will be held Tuesday, May 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Illinois Valley High School gymnasium, 625 E. River St., in Cave Junction.
The owners of identified forestland-urban lands will be required by the state to reduce potentially flammable vegetation around homes and other structures, according to rules specified in the Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act.
Identified lands are assigned a wildland fire-risk classification ranging from “low” to “extreme.” This classification is one factor in determining the size of fuel break required around structures.
The identification and classification process was conducted by a five-person committee appointed by Josephine County, the state forester and the state fire marshal. The committee first met in April 2006 and has held monthly public meetings during which it developed its draft maps, which will be presented during the May 29 meeting.
The maps and the committee’s findings will not be finalized until after a public hearing is held. No date has been set for this hearing,
but it will likely take place in early summer.
The process the committee followed for identifying and classifying forestland-urban interface lands will be explained during the meeting. Maps showing forestland-urban interface lands in Illinois Valley will be posted. Committee members and Oregon Dept. of Forestry (ODF) personnel will be available to answer questions.
For more information, visit http://oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/SB360/sb360.shtml for an outline of the Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act and a link to the Josephine County Forestland-Urban Interface Classification Committee.
Information also may be obtained by phoning Brian Ballou at ODF’s S.W. Oregon District, (541) 665-0662.
