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FIRE WATCH Ashland considers wildfire restrictions Comment By Ian Hand for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ian Hand for the Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 22, 2014 at 2:00 AM Updated Sep 22, 2014 at 8:19 AM By Ian Hand for the Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 22, 2014 at 2:00 AM Updated Sep 22, 2014 at 8:19 AM » Social News The city of Ashland will hold sessions today and Thursday to discuss a proposed ordinance expanding the city's Wildfire Hazard Zone, which would in turn increase regulations for both new construction and remodels. The zone, adopted in 1992, currently covers the hills above Ashland. However, Ashland Fire & Rescue officials said those boundaries needed to be re-evaluated. "You could drive down the street with the one side designated as the hazard zone while the other isn't," said Margueritte Hickman, Ashland's fire division chief and fire marshal. "It was difficult to make the distinction as to why one side was a hazard zone and the other wasn't." Hickman added that recent fires outside designated hazard zones have behaved more like wildfires than urban fires. "When you look at fires like the one in Oak Knoll and the fire in Weed, Calif., you see that these type of fires can occur in municipal areas," she said. Rules for the designation for a Wildfire Hazard Zone are outlined by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Geographical areas are evaluated through four hazard factors: fire weather, topography, predominant vegetative fuel and the distribution of that fuel in the area. Each factor is scored zero through three with a total score of 12 possible for each geographical area. A score of seven or higher designates an area as part of the jurisdiction's wildfire zone. In reassessing Ashland, the city was divided into 16 geographical areas. The evaluation found that every area fit the criteria for a wildfire zone.. An area designated as part of the zone would have stricter rules regarding new construction, prohibiting wood shake roofing and landscaping prone to fire spread, such as juniper, cypress, blackberries and arbor vitae. "In the aftermath of Oak Knoll, these were some of the things that we found helped the spread," Hickman said. Owners of existing buildings would not be required to make any changes, provided there is no new construction on the property or roof replacement. Replacement of 50 percent or more of a roof would require non-wood, class B or A fire-rated roofing material. "It's not our intent to create more rules," Hickman said. "It's our responsibility to figure out how to create a safe environment and mitigate risk. "The neighborhood won't change overnight. It will be a gradual change over the next five, 10 or 20 years as buildings are replaced or updated." Ashland Fire & Rescue will hold two community sessions to collect comments: from 7 to 8 p.m. on both Monday, Sept. 22, and Thursday, Sept. 25, at The Grove, 1195 E. Main St. The Monday session is for contractors and landscapers while Thursday's session is for the general public. "We've already had some feedback that has helped us focus our work," Hickman said. "We're open to hearing suggestions and concerns. We want to alleviate those concerns that people might have." More information on the wildfire zone expansion can be found online at www.ashland.or.us/whz and feedback can also be given through the city's Open City Hall feature on its website. "We're not going to eliminate fires," Hickman said. " That's part of the world we live in. But we can work in a way to limit fuel and create an environment with smaller flame lengths that we can effectively contain and put out." Reach Ashland Daily Tidings reporter Ian Hand at [email protected] or call him at 253-722-4071. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/IanHand_DT . By Ian Hand for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ian Hand for the Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 22, 2014 at 2:00 AM Updated Sep 22, 2014 at 8:19 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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