Press Release
Kelsey McGee Reports on Successful Fuel Reduction Program in Madras
MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Kelsey McGee visited Madras on Monday to cover the Heart of Oregon Corps (HOC) youth crew’s impactful work on wildfire prevention at the Elk Drive Project, highlighting the program’s significance amidst this summer’s Elk Lane Fire, which scorched more than 5,200 acres. Gratitude from local homeowners underscores the importance of the defensible space cleared by HOC’s efforts, which protected properties during the blaze.
The recently concluded fire season saw the Elk Lane Fire threatening local homes, prompting urgent evacuations. However, one family returned to find their property intact thanks to proactive brush clearing and tree thinning conducted by HOC’s youth crew just a year earlier. They expressed profound appreciation, noting how firefighters could more effectively protect their home due to the established defensible space.
This success is attributed to the Oregon Conservation Corps grant, part of the SB762 Wildfire legislation enacted in 2021, which funds hands-on projects while also equipping young Oregonians, ages 16-24, with essential skills for careers in natural resources. HOC and the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) are actively engaged in this initiative, working across Jefferson, Deschutes, and Crook counties to treat nearly 600 acres of land for wildfire fuel reduction since 2022.
As winter approaches, the COWWP program is again offering free fuels reduction services to property owners in high-risk wildfire zones, particularly targeting underserved communities. For more information or to check eligibility, residents are encouraged to visit coic.org/cowwp.
For further updates, catch Kelsey McGee’s report on NewsChannel 21 at Five.
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Photo credit ktvz.com