Wildfire Evacuation Concerns Slowing Subdivision in Bend, Oregon

The Bend Bulletin reports plans to add a new subdivision near Bend, Oregon are raising concerns from neighbors about the ability to evacuate during a wildfire. The issue is moving to public hearings to determine the fate of a 67-lot, 14.5-acre prospective community that would abut a golf course and become part of the River's Edge Village master plan. So far about 70 people have contributed written comments about the plans.

Some neighbors fear their area of town could repeat the tragedy of the Camp Fire, the fire in Paradise, California, last year that killed at least 85 people and destroyed 18,800 structures. Traffic gridlock has been cited as a reason Paradise was difficult to evacuate.A fire lane is listed in the plans but is shown with a locked gate.

“The proposed project would add at the very least 67 more vehicles all needing to evacuate, at the same time,” David and Karan Gordon wrote in an email to the city. “We are aware there are planned locked gates, but are concerned that the person, or persons, that are capable of unlocking those gates may not be able to access those gates in a timely fashion. One only has to look at recent events (Paradise, California, for instance) to see how limited egress plays out in a fire.”