LINN COUNTY, Ore. – Linn County received an $8.7 million federal grant to fund wildfire preparedness efforts over the next five years, according to the Sweet Home Fire District.
District officials said that the Community Wildfire Defense Grant will support the Wildfire Ready Linn County project. Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District is leading the effort. The project brings together Sweet Home Fire District, Lebanon Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry, South Santiam Watershed Council, Calapooia Watershed Council and Linn County Juvenile Department. OSU Extension’s Fire Program, Linn County’s Planning Department, Linn County’s Emergency Management Department and Oregon State Fire Marshal are also supporting the work.
The partnership plans to create more fire-adapted communities by building a shared fuels project database, funding an ODF community wildfire forester position and expanding property assessments. Professional and youth crews will complete free defensible space work around at-risk homes, and the program will offer free community chipper days to reduce hazardous fuels…