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Oregon withdraws wildfire risk map after public outcry

Oregon withdraws wildfire risk map after public outcry

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SALEM, Ore. – After getting feedback from thousands of Oregonians, state officials have withdrawn a map that identified the approximate wildfire risk for every corner of Oregon.

The process sprang https://besthookupwebsites.org/friendfinder-review/ from a law passed in 2021, intended to address the impacts of wildfires in Oregon. Part of that law led to this wildfire risk assessment map, which was created by the Oregon Department of Forestry.

The map was meant to inform people whether their homes are at “high” or “extreme” risk from wildfires. Just as significantly, the map was supposed to let property owners know if they needed to take additional steps to protect their homes, which would have been a requirement by next spring.

Those additional steps included things like trimming trees or cutting back vegetation on a property to create what’s known as defensible space.

Oregon withdraws wildfire risk map after public outcry

After the map was originally published, many homeowners – particularly in rural parts of Oregon – reported that their insurance rates suddenly doubled or even tripled. Some said that their insurers dropped them entirely.

The Story reported on the deluge of complaints on Wednesday this week. On Thursday, seemingly swayed by some very heated feedback, Oregon State Forester Cal Mukumoto issued a statement announcing that the map would be withdrawn and reworked.

“In response to input received since posting, we have decided to remove the current iteration of the wildfire risk map from the Oregon Explorer and withdraw the notices sent,” Mukumoto said. “We will immediately begin working with Oregon State University on some refinements to improve the accuracy of risk classification assignments based on what we’ve heard from property owners thus far.”

ODF said that it received 750 appeals from Oregon residents within the last several weeks alone. Fortsett å lese Oregon withdraws wildfire risk map after public outcry