Resources
Wasco County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (2024)
The Wasco County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a locally driven plan that helps identify wildfire risks and outlines steps to protect homes, forests, and community resources. After a severe 2020 fire season—including the Mosier Creek and White River fires—the County used federal grant funding to update its 15-year-old CWPP, reflecting changes like new development, past fires, and forest treatments. The updated plan includes a revised wildland-urban interface map, a fresh risk assessment, and a new set of community actions. It was shaped by input from local residents, land managers, and emergency responders to better prepare Wasco County for future wildfires. You can read the plan here.
Forest Resilience on Private Lands
Wasco County spans 1.5 million acres with 59% of all-lands privately owned. In addition to being a top producer of wheat and specialty crops like cherries, grapes, and apples, the county is home to approximately 20,000 acres of private forestland that play a vital role in watershed health, wildlife habitat, and wildfire resilience. Forest stewardship on private lands is essential to the region’s long-term ecological and economic sustainability. Landowners are encouraged to contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to learn about available programs and technical assistance to support forest health, fuels reduction, and other conservation practices. Learn more here.
East Cascades Oak Partnership
The East Cascades Oak Partnership (ECOP) is a group of people who know and love the Columbia River Gorge and the East Cascades as a place with thriving wildlife, a vibrant economy, and incredible beauty. We recognized the importance of Oregon white oak habitats to our quality of life, to a strong economy, and to the well-being of hundreds of species of plants and wildlife with which we share our home. We are collaborating to leverage resources, share knowledge, and implement conservation strategies that will help protect vulnerable oak habitats, encouraging more sustainable human interactions with these important resources and improving outcomes for people, oaks and wildlife. Learn more here.
Community Wildfire Preparedness
Wasco County ranks as one of the most vulnerable communities to wildfire in the western United States. The Mt. Hood National Forest is a Wildfire Crisis Strategy National Priority Landscape, one of only 21 priority landscapes in the country. At the state level, the Hood River Ranger District is a priority for forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction as identified in Oregon’s 20-Year Landscape Resiliency Strategic Plan. Defensible space and home hardening are the best ways to reduce the risk of structure loss during a wildfire event. Wasco County Forest Collaborative member, Oregon State Fire Marshal, offers excellent online resources. You can also learn more about how to have a professional fire fighter assess your property and provide recommendations to reduce the chances of a structure fire when the next wildfire strikes.