A report on wildfire risk in Portland cites energy consultant Robert McCullough’s concerns that “siloed” Portland agencies lack a unified fire response network, (“Is Portland at risk for urban wildfire? A local expert who analyzed Los Angeles fires thinks so,” July 20).
I agree there is an urgent need to create one bureau or unit that would bring all of the city’s natural resource management under one umbrella. However, the story ignores significant efforts to coordinate bureau activities around wildfire risk prevention.
The severity of the Mocks Crest/University of Portland bluff fire on the east side of the river 25 years ago was due in large part to the prevalence of invasive non-native species such as Himalayan blackberry. The lessons of that fire prompted Portland Parks and Recreation ecology staff and the Bureau of Environmental Services revegetation team to use multi-year federal grants to remove flammable non-native vegetation and replant native species to reduce fire risk and improve wildlife habitat…