After the destruction from the intense wildfire season in the state last year, Oregon lawmakers passed a $200 million wildfire bill that could prevent future catastrophes and also includes more firefighting capacity, expanded forest management plans, and clean air shelters to protect vulnerable people from smoke. NPR reporter Cassandra Profita says Oregon will now map out the places that face the highest fire risk. The maps will have the biggest influence over which areas will see the strictest fire-safe building codes for new construction.
A key sticking point will come down to defining the so-called wildland-urban interface, where residential areas meet forests and rangelands. It's the fastest-growing land use type and that, along with the warmer climate, is raising wildfire risk for communities across the country.
"We are looking for a balance between letting people do exactly what they want on their private property and responding to this existential threat," said Democratic state Sen. Jeff Golden.
During the legislative session, critics from real estate, construction, and agricultural industries again sounded alarms. They worried broad restrictions would increase costs for property owners, home builders, and farmers and infringe on private property rights.
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