Ongoing risk-reduction program that pays share of homeowner’s costs to reduce flammable vegetation coming up for renewal

By Damian Mann for Ashland.news

A question mark hangs over a federal grant extension that helps Ashland reduce wildfire risk by creating defensible spaces around high-risk properties.

The approximately $3 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant will expire March 31, and the city has applied for an extension, though threats of federal funding cuts have cast doubts over the approval.

At a City Council study session Monday night, the grant issue was discussed extensively, as well as concerns about removal of weeds and dead trees on private property.

Ashland Fire & Rescue uses the FEMA grant to reimburse homeowners who create defensible space around some of the 1,100 high-risk properties that are mainly near forested areas.

“We are not opening any new projects,” said Fire Marshal Mark Shay during the study session.

Since May 2024, 173 properties have been cleaned up under the program, and Ashland fire has conducted assessments on 56 other properties since last year.

Shay said homeowners can perform the cleanup work themselves, or a contractor can be hired, and then the homeowner can be reimbursed.

“Every mitigation requires an assessment,” Shay said. “Some landowners don’t want to remove all the vegetation FEMA requires.”

As a result, it has been difficult to get some owners on board with the clean-up effort because they like having a certain amount of vegetation around their houses, he said.

Also, the fire department had staffing issues for many years.

Fire Chief Ralph Sartain, who attended his final council meeting before retiring, said the city is now in good shape with staffing levels at Ashland fire.

Shay said current staffing levels will allow more assessments and provide more opportunities to work with homeowners.

The previous staffing issues contributed to the low number of properties that were mitigated, Shay said.

If the grant is extended, he said the city will consider expanding the clean-up area to other properties in the city, while still focusing on the 1,100 high-risk properties.

The grant extension was given preliminary approval by the state of Oregon and the regional FEMA office, but it is now awaiting final approval from FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“It’s a big ‘if’ at this point,” Councilor Eric Hansen said.

He said wildfire risk is on everybody’s mind as the region edges closer to fire season and as many local agencies and organizations grow increasingly concerned about federal support.\

The council also reviewed proposed revisions to its weed and noxious vegetation ordinance.

Ashland fire recommended earlier restrictions on removing weeds and other dangerous vegetation before the start of the fire season.

Currently the season starts May 15 and ends by Sept. 30, or when the Oregon Department of Forestry declares the end of the fire season.

The proposed change asks for a start date of May 1 and an end date of Oct.1.

It is the property owners responsibility to mow weeds before the fire season starts.

But councilors said they thought an end date of Oct. 15 would be more appropriate considering how long the hot weather lasted in recent years.

Councilor Hansen said the city needs to find more ways to exert pressure on property owners who haven’t cut down weeds and and other vegetation.

“They’re putting the whole city at risk,” he said.

Shay said his department would rely more on volunteers to survey properties that pose a fire risk.

Councilor Doug Knauer said he wondered what the city could do about properties in unincorporated areas just outside city limits.

“There is no weed ordinance in the county,” Shay said. “I don’t believe we have an enforcement arm outside the city limit.”

Mayor Tonya Graham said the city needs to do more to have dead trees removed before the start of fire season.

Shay said there is some ambiguity in determining if a tree is actually dead. Councilor Jeff Dahle said, “I know when I see a dead tree.”

Councilor Dylan Bloom said the city needs to have a conversation about this subject that would lead to an ordinance requiring removal of dead trees.

The council worried that the cost of removing dead trees might be prohibitive for some homeowners, which might require a lien placed on a property if the city undertakes the tree removal.

Councilor Hansen wanted to explore whether the FEMA grant would cover the cost of removal of dead trees.

Shay said, “I think it could.”

The council agreed to take up the issue of dealing with dead or nuisance vegetation at a later date and indicated it would support an Oct. 15 end date for fire season.

Reach freelance writer Damian Mann at [email protected].

Related stories:

Council Corner: When wildfire comes to town, will you burn down your neighbor’s house? (June 5, 2024)

Thinking through fire risks — and doing something about it — could save your home (May 13, 2024)

Fire Safe Home Work: Take it from the top — roofs and gutters (April 10, 2024)

Fire Safe Home Work: What can you do to reduce your wildfire risk? (April 4, 2024)

State Fire Marshal offers $250 grants to renters, homeowners for wildfire defensible space (March 19, 2024)