Oregon State Fire Marshal release – SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State Fire Marshal are convening a workgroup to discuss solutions for sustainable wildfire mitigation and suppression funding to address the growing wildfire crisis. The Legislature tasked the two agencies with establishing the workgroup through House Bill 5701 in the 2024 legislative session. The group is meeting for the first time in June. The need for a sustainable and equitable funding structure for wildfire response and mitigation has never been more urgent. The way response and mitigation are currently funded is inadequate to address the growing complexity and cost of wildfires Oregon faces today, which impacts public health and safety, community well-being, and the state’s economy. Workgroup members represent a wide range of partners and will work closely with the Governor’s Wildfire Programs Advisory Council. Workgroup members from the South Coast include: • Armando Martinez, Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw; • Lon Matheny, Coquille Indian Tribe. The agencies will report on the group’s progress to the Emergency Board in December and during the 2025 legislative session. People will be able to view the workgroup meetings virtually. Details will be provided on both the ODF’s and the OSFM’s websites before each meeting. Learn more about the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State Fire Marshal and their efforts to meet the rising challenges of wildfire.
