Wildfire Protection Plan recommendations prioritized

Increased wildfire risk is a major concern in our community due to an unusually mild winter, low snowpack on Mt. Hood, and years of drought in the region. To address this, the recently completed Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) outlines actions to reduce the impact of wildland fires in Hood River County.

This map illustrates Hood River County's burn probability if a severe wildfire struck the area (click for larger image).

Developed under the County’s leadership by former Emergency Manager Charles Young and in collaboration with other local governments, fire districts, and state and federal agencies, the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) was completed a year ago. In 2026, the focus will be on planning and carrying out high-priority projects that will have the greatest impact.

The CWPP was created alongside the County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP), which addresses several serious threats to our community. Last year, the NHMP and CWPP received the American Planning Association’s Award for Innovation.

The CWPP Steering Committee, guided by the Emergency Manager, prioritized wildfire mitigation recommendations, with valuable support and input from the All-Lands Partnership and the Hood River County Forest Collaborative.

Wildfire Mitigation Recommendations

The County’s plan includes projects that employ different forest and land management tools for wildfire mitigation. (See Chapter 8 beginning on page 96 of the CWPP.) The major endorsements fall into the following categories:

• Prevention (education and policy changes for the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) structures and infrastructure).
• Limiting use (banning certain activities, such backyard burns, during wildfire season).
• Defensible space creation at the home level.
• Emergency response enhancements (including trainings and equipment).
• Access improvements for emergency vehicles and first responders.
• Fuels reduction treatments (including regional forest and land management projects for private, local, state, and federal landowners).

In the CWPP, mitigation recommendations are organized into two main sections.

Defensible Space and Other Mitigation Projects

This section (pages 96-102) outlines actions by fire agencies and various stakeholders, such as county emergency management and nonprofit organizations, (see Table 8-1, beginning on page 97 of CWPP).

These actions involve:

• Clearing vegetation and other fire fuels from properties near critical structures
• Upgrading fire suppression equipment
• Improving roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure
• Enhancing public awareness about fire safety

Nine high priority projects have been identified out of 50 projects listed. They are categorized by the lead agency and project type (i.e., outreach, planning, fuels mitigation, etc.).

Three projects are already underway. The County seeks to hire a Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator that has been funded by a grant for up to five years to provide coordination, outreach and project management services. The hope is that the coordinator will work with neighborhoods to establish 40 more Firewise neighborhoods beyond the existing eight. Hood River County is also reviewing land use and building codes for new construction in the WUI. Plus, a demonstration project on the Indian Creek Trail was completed in March to illustrate the creation of defensible space through vegetation thinning (see sidebar).

Fuels Reduction Projects

These actions (pages 103-112) outline strategies for broader land use and wildfire mitigation planning involving local, state, and federal fire agencies (see Table 8-2, beginning on page 104 in CWPP). Actions in this category may include:

• Commercial or pre-commercial thinning
• Pruning and brush removal
• Chipping or prescribed burning
• Creating greenbelts or shaded fuel breaks
• General forest health improvements

Out of 56 listed projects, eleven high-priority projects have been identified. Most of these focus on clearing fire fuels, improving access to areas, creating fire breaks, and maintaining defensible space.

Next Steps

The All-Lands Partnership met on April 15 at the Hood River Fire Station to prioritize actions to advance the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. With consensus on several new projects for development this year, the Partnership will begin to address critical questions such as which agencies should be involved, the timing and methods for project execution, and identify available funding mechanisms.

The meeting included 26 All-Lands Partnership members representing various organizations, including the Hood River Forest Collaborative, Hood River County, local fire districts, the U.S. Forest Service, the Oregon State Fire Marshal, the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Emergency Management, the O.S.U. Extension Service, the Columbia Land Trust, the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Branch of National Resources, Oregon Fish and Wildlife, and other partners.

Indian Creek Trail Demonstration Project

A fuels reduction demonstration project was completed last month along the Indian Creek Trail. This initiative was conceived by Charles Young, the former Emergency Manager for Hood River County, who is now with Oregon Emergency Management. Before his departure, Young presented his project to Andy Dwyer of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office. The parcel, located next to a Firewise Community and owned by the Port of Hood River, sees regular foot traffic to highlight the creation of defensible space around homes and neighborhoods. Thinning dense vegetation, removing highly flammable non-native plants, and restoring fire-resistant native ecology are examples of strategies for reducing fuel load.

In late March, the County teamed up with local partners and non-profit AntFarm Youth Services, based in Sandy, OR. AntFarm uses its own grant money to carry out this type of work and is booked into next year. Fortunately, field crews who had been working on another project on Mt. Hood finished ahead of schedule and were able to complete the fuel reduction work along the Indian Creek Trail in just one week.

Before and After clearing on the Indian Creek Trail by Ant Farm in early March 2026.