Living With Wildfire

Land use planning can help us coexist with wildfire.

In Central Oregon, wildfire is a natural ecological process that keeps our forests and grasslands healthy and resilient. Because we live in a fire-adapted landscape, we need a plan for people and wildfire to safely coexist.  

LandWatch has spent more than a decade advocating for careful planning in the face of wildfire, especially in our region’s most high-risk areas. 

The likelihood of wildfire throughout Central Oregon makes rural and sprawling development incredibly dangerous. Land use planning that limits dispersed rural development and promotes infill development inside urban growth boundaries (UGBs) is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent loss from wildfire.

With global climate change causing warmer temperatures and more frequent drought conditions across Central Oregon, LandWatch remains committed to planning for wildfire-adapted communities.