Wildfire Map Town Hall Meeting

There are 3 samples letters followed with all the email addresses for Rep’s and Senators

Sample letter 1:
Subject: Support Rural Oregon: Repeal the Wildfire Map (SB678) and Protect Homeowners
Dear Senator and Representatives,

I urge you to support SB 678, which seeks to repeal the wildfire map that has burdened rural Oregonians rather than helping them protect their homes and property. Instead of punitive measures, we need incentives that empower rural communities to mitigate wildfire risks effectively. If supporting SB 678 is not an option, I urge you to consider repealing SB 762, to provide much-needed relief to Oregonians.

Additionally, there are serious concerns about SB 73, 77, 78, and 79, as these bills would further restrict home construction and home-based businesses in rural Oregon. At a time when housing affordability is already a major challenge, these measures will only deepen the urban-rural divide and make it harder for rural Oregonians to live and work in their communities.

The vast amount of land owned by state and federal governments should be the primary focus of lawmakers in wildfire mitigation efforts. Reducing fuel loads on these lands would have a far greater impact on fire prevention than imposing restrictive policies on private property owners.

The home insurance crisis is reaching a breaking point, and rural Oregonians need relief—not additional regulations that make home ownership more difficult. Insurance reforms are critical to the well being of Oregonians and the health of this state. I urge you to support SB 678 and oppose SB 73, 77, 78, and 79 to protect the rights and livelihoods of rural communities.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely,

Sample Letter 2:
Dear Senators and Representatives of Oregon State,

I am writing to respectfully urge your support for SB 678, which seeks to repeal the wildfire map associated with SB 762. This map has created significant challenges for homeowners without addressing the underlying issues of wildfire risk.

The wildfire map assigns fixed risk levels to properties, which remain unchanged regardless of mitigation efforts. This inflexible approach not only fails to reduce wildfire risks but also imposes unnecessary hardships on homeowners.

Furthermore, the map discourages homeowners from improving fire safety on their properties by offering no opportunity for reassessment or adjustment based on proactive measures. Risk levels are determined without any on-site evaluations, leading to a blanket categorization that often misrepresents actual conditions.

While insurance companies may not openly acknowledge their reliance on the wildfire map, its very existence sets a damaging precedent. The map undermines the welfare of Oregonians, is unnecessary, and perpetuates harm rather than fostering safety or resilience.

To effectively address wildfire risks, we must focus on improving forest management policies on state and federal lands, which comprise the majority of fire-prone areas. These lands require far more attention and resources to mitigate fire dangers meaningfully.

For the benefit of all Oregonians, I urge you to permanently eliminate the wildfire map and work toward real solutions that protect our communities without causing undue harm. Please support SB 678.

Sincerely,

Sample letter 3:

Dear Senators and Representatives of Oregon State,
I am writing to respectfully request your support for SB 678, which seeks to repeal the wildfire map associated with SB 762. This map has created significant challenges for homeowners without offering effective solutions to wildfire risks. Instead of addressing the root causes of wildfire hazards, it imposes undue hardships on property owners across the state.

The wildfire map assigns permanent risk levels to properties—levels that remain unchanged regardless of the mitigation efforts undertaken by homeowners. According to ORS 477.490, the criteria used to develop the map are limited to climate, weather, topography, and vegetation. Factors such as defensible space, proximity to a fire station, home hardening measures, and irrigation practices are excluded from consideration. This rigid framework denies homeowners the ability to improve their risk ratings through proactive efforts.

The lack of flexibility and fairness in this system has led to widespread frustration and a loss of trust among the very people you represent. Do you believe it is fair to permanently categorize properties as high-risk when homeowners have no meaningful way to appeal or improve their status? If so, why are so many of your constituents voicing their outrage?

By eliminating incentives for fire safety improvements, the wildfire map undermines the goal of reducing wildfire risks. It unfairly condemns property owners to permanent risk categories without any on-the-ground assessment to verify individual circumstances.

Insurance companies, while not openly admitting to using the wildfire map in their risk assessments, are undoubtedly influenced by its existence. This has set a harmful precedent that impacts homeowners’ access to affordable insurance and financial security.

What can be done instead?
The majority of fire-prone areas are on state and federal lands, which require improved forest management practices. A focus on better forest management, along with incentives for homeowners to adopt fire safety measures, would be far more effective in addressing wildfire risks.

The wildfire map is harmful, unnecessary, and detrimental to the welfare of Oregonians. It must be permanently repealed. We need meaningful, practical solutions—not policies that impose lasting harm on our communities.

I urge you to support SB 678 for the benefit of all Oregonians.

Sincerely,