To the Editor:

The Oregonian article “Burned” on the Canyon Creek Complex missed two aspects. Should houses be built in fire prone landscapes? And did homeowners use Firewise techniques to lower the risk of fires burning their houses?

While I sympathize with people for the tragedy of losing their homes, earlier actions could have reduced this tragedy. Living in a forested setting poses wildfire risks. Forests will always burn. In my work as a planning consultant, I ask clients who live in forested settings, “What will you do when the fire comes? That’s when, not if.” One important tool planners should use is not allowing houses in high-risk forest areas. We use zoning to prohibit houses in flood plains. What stops us from zoning high fire risk areas as unbuildable? Katherine Daniels with Oregon DLCD has written, “effective land use planning has perhaps the greatest potential for reducing wildfire threat” (Hood River News, Nov. 7, 2015).

Protecting homes during fires is expensive. Oregon Department of Forestry estimates the average cost of protecting a home in a rural area is $31,545 versus $319 in an already developed area. And the danger to firefighters is real. The 2013 Arizona Yarnell Hill Fire killed 19 firefighters working to protect homes in a high fire risk area.

Given that houses were developed in the forest along Highway 395, did homeowners take actions to reduce their fire risk, such as clearing trees and brush around their structures? There are many photos showing burning homes with trees close to the house. Homeowners should have removed trees and brush within 30-100 feet of their homes. These techniques are described in the Firewise program. ODF staff can advise homeowners and reimburse them for costs of vegetation treatment.

Scientists tell us forest fires will be more frequent and get larger. The Forest Service is overwhelmed with high costs and insufficient firefighting funds. To help deal with this issue planning departments must develop regulations that prohibit building houses in high fire risk areas. Retroactively, homeowners in high fire risk areas should be required to remove trees and brush close to their homes.

Jurgen A. Hess

Hood River