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With snow on the ground, wildfire does not appear to be a burning issue for Southern Oregon. The 2015 fire season was mild for our city, but uncharacteristically large wildfires burned throughout our region, keeping us on edge from June to October. Even though fire season is over, the members of the Wildfire Mitigation Commission are still meeting monthly, discussing and moving forward on the community’s pressing wildfire issues. The Wildfire Mitigation Commission is responsible for advising City Council, staff, and citizens on issues and policies related to wildfire. A major component of the commission’s work entails updating the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Crafted in 2004, the Ashland CWPP needs to be updated to incorporate current knowledge, practice and opportunities. The CWPP will guide the community’s wildfire planning, preparation and mitigation actions for the next five years, working towards being a fire-adapted community. An effective CWPP depends on the community understanding wildfire risk and taking actions to mitigate and manage it. Though Ashland has made significant progress, to achieve wildfire preparedness is to never stop working toward it. Ashland is the leader in Oregon with 23 nationally recognized Firewise Communities, but only 7 percent of the city is within those neighborhoods. Vegetation grows, new residents move to town and community leaders come and go. With an uncertain climate future, we’re likely to experience more frequent, severe and longer lasting summer fire seasons. These are all reasons why a CWPP is a crucial foundation that outlines actions to protect our homes, businesses and water supply. The concerns of our citizens, as well as what they know and are doing to mitigate the risk of wildfire, are an essential element to the CWPP. This information helps guide an integrated and proactive approach to wildfire preparedness that suits Ashland’s needs. To this end, the commission partnered with the Center for Social Ecology and Public Policy this fall to interview more than 400 citizens about their interests and issues regarding wildfire. Jackson County is also in the process of updating the countywide protection plan, which includes the land surrounding the city, a critical piece of the puzzle. The commission supports the expansion of the current Wildfire Hazard Zone (WHZ). As a result of a City Council study session after the 2010 Oak Knoll Fire, Ashland Fire & Rescue determined the entire city is at risk of wildfire and expansion of the current WHZ was warranted. The proposed ordinance includes the entire footprint of the city, requiring new or remodeled structures with more than 200 square feet to put in defensible space and use fire-resistant landscaping. This process is still in the planning phase, and has just completed study sessions with the Tree and Planning Commissions. Ashland Fire & Rescue is also collaborating with the Forest Lands Commission and the city’s water conservation efforts. The city has a dedicated website explaining the process. Please visit www.ashland.or.us/whz for updated maps and information. If you would like to provide input on the community engagement portion of the CWPP, please send your comments and concerns to [email protected].  Alison Lerch is the Fire Adapted Communities coordinator for Ashland Fire & Rescue. The Alarm Box, a column with local public safety information written by Ashland Fire & Rescue personnel, appears triweekly in the Tidings. Email topic suggestions to [email protected].