HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-048 Letter Regarding Wildfire Hazard Map and RulesC I T Y O F
ASHLAND
a! rag
August 6, 2024
To Whom it May Concern,
I'm writing on behalf of my community and the City of Ashland government to comment on
the proposed Oregon Wildfire Hazard Map and associated rules included in the text of Senate
Bills 762 and 80. The current mapping and rules, together, while achieving a greater degree of
wildfire protection in some settings across the state, would inadvertently remove a critical
tool in building homes and communities that can withstand the type of devastation we saw
in 2020, something Ashland proactively adopted beginning in 2018 through land use planning
and building codes.
Knowing our community is at extreme risk of a devastating wildfire, the City of Ashland
proactively designated all land in our municipal boundary as a Wildfire Lands Overlay by City
Council vote in 2018. This allowed us to apply defensible space standards in our Land Use
Code to all new construction and to subsequently adopt chapter R327 of the Residential
Structural Specialty Code to require home hardening for wildfire safety during new
construction. Both are measures proven to reduce structure loss and the myriad associated
negative impacts to infrastructure, livability, and economy. The 2020 Almeda Fire reinforced
that our community lives on the edge each summer, and that every preventative measure
we take as a Fire Adapted Community is of the utmost importance to our safety.
Almeda demonstrated that it wasn't only homes that burned adjacent to hazardous
vegetation, but entire city blocks in downtown core areas that were consumed... areas that
even in the revised hazard mapping are shown as Low and Moderate hazard due to
technological limitations in wildfire modelling.
It has come to our attention that upon finalization of the rules resulting from Senate Bill 762
and Senate Bill 80, Chapter R327 will only be applicable on lots designated as "High" hazard
and within the designated wildland urban interface area on the draft Oregon Wildfire Hazard
Map. This will result in Ashland losing the ability to proactively implement home hardening
measures for the safety of our citizens across most of the area adopted in our Wildfire Lands
Overlay in 2018.
On behalf of the City of Ashland, we are requesting the ability for county and city
governments to retain the option to adopt Chapter R327 in areas of "Low" and "Moderate"
hazard in the wildland urban interface, as well as preserving any adoptions made before the
passage of Senate Bill 762. This places no additional burden on the State and allows for
increased local autonomy and enforcement.
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
20 East Main Street
Ashland, Oregon 97520 .
ashland.or.us
ASHLAND
We do not believe that it is the intention of this legislation to reduce our level of safety. Senate
Bill 762 and the subsequent Senate Bill 80 have provided the tools for Oregon to move toward
greater wildfire response and resiliency. The efforts of our state legislators, state
departments and various rules advisory committee members are acknowledged and
appreciated. Ashland has been at the forefront of community wildfire resiliency programs
and practices for over twenty years.
We appreciate your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Tonya raham
Mayor of Ashland on behalf of the Ashland City Council
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
20 East Main Street
Ashland, Oregon 97520
ashland.or.us
T09