The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) launched a new round of funding through its Small Forestland Grant Program to help landowners reduce wildfire risk before and after the 2026 fire season.
This year, ODF awarded funds to 11 projects to mitigate wildfire risk on 1,023 acres by reducing hazardous fuels, improving community preparedness, and supporting long-term landscape resilience.
Most of the funded work is in Southern and Central Oregon, where wildfire risk is especially high.
One example of success comes from the Applegate Partnership and Watershed Council, based in Jacksonville, Oregon, which received Small Forestland Grant funds to complete significant fuels reduction and community engagement work.
ODF also coordinates with state and federal partners to maximize the impact of investments for landscape resiliency.
The project used about $269,000 to significantly improve local wildfire preparedness by assessing wildfire risk for 60 homeowners, removing more than 800 dead or hazardous trees, reducing plants along driveways and public roads to make safe evacuation routes and improving firefighter access in and around communities
The removal of hazardous trees also reduced safety risks for residents, forestry workers and first responders. This project strengthened community safety, reduced wildfire risks, and improved the landscape’s resilience.
The project leveraged more than $2.4 million provided through the National Resource Conservation Service to treat another 262 acres of private land. To stretch funding further, ODF and partners used a cost-share model that encouraged landowner participation. Landowners have contributed $45,349, about 18% of the total cost of work completed.
