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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 9, 2005 Fire plan will help residents prepare By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune A Jackson County fire plan under development will give residents direction on reducing the risk of wildfire near their homes and on evacuation in the case of a catastrophic fire. The county and its agency and community partners will hold five regional public meetings in October and November to glean information from residents about the worst fire risks in their respective areas and their visions of a county fire plan. The next meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sams Valley Elementary School, 14235 Table Rock Road. "The plan is to try to make people aware of the risk of wildfire and try to make them understand what services fire districts and other agencies provide," said Brian Ballou, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Forestry, one of the partner groups drawing up the plan. Advertisement The plan will include a wildfire risk assessment, a map of hot spots, an evacuation plan, pointers for homeowners to guard their homes from fire, a countywide strategy for reducing grass, brush and plant debris and ideas for using or disposing of biomass. The hope is that through partnerships with the public and agencies, the plan will lead to fewer wildfires and less property damage and a safer environment in the county, said Jeff Schwanke, former ODF forester for Southern Oregon and an incident management consultant for the county. "Southern Oregon has dry, hot, windy weather, but we also have all the (plant) fuel," Schwanke said. "The hot summer and the fuel load combine in Jackson and Josephine counties for some of the worst fire conditions in the state." The first draft is due in spring 2006. The final plan is slated to be released in July, followed by a 30-day public review period. County commissioners are expected to consider whether to adopt the plan in August. Holding public meetings in different geographic parts in the county, including Jacksonville, Sams Valley, Ruch, Ashland, Rogue River and Shady Cove, will allow the county to tailor the plan to the needs of each area, Ballou said. A meeting in Jacksonville was held Sept. 27. "We want the plan to be modeled for the people who live in the county," Ballou said. Meetings on the Jackson County Integrated Fire Plan: Sams Valley — 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sams Valley Elementary School, 14235 Table Rock Road, Central Point. Applegate/Ruch — 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Ruch School cafeteria, 156 Upper Applegate Road, Jacksonville. Ashland/Greensprings — 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Bellview Grange, 1050 Tolman Creek Road, Ashland. Rogue River/Wimer — 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at Rogue River High School, 1898 E. Evans Creek Road, Rogue River. Shady Cove/Butte Falls/Prospect — 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at Upper Rogue Community Center, 22465 Highway 62, Shady Cove. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Advertisement s