![]() Sept.Environmental overlays are extra levels of protection in certain areas of the city to protect natural resources such as streams, wetland, and hillsides. ApOregon postpones wildfire risk mapping and rulemaking plans after public backlashĪfter withdrawing a controversial map of wildfire risk on every property statewide, the Oregon Department of Forestry is planning to spend the next year talking with the public and revising the map. It's in part a response to last summer’s controversial map, which outlined wildfire risk at the property ownership level across the state. Senate Bill 82 restricts how insurance companies can use wildfire risk maps. JOregon bill to restrict insurance company use of wildfire risk maps heads to governor Wildfire victims and their advocates say the PacifiCorp ruling is a lifeline after nearly three years without enough insurance money, emergency funding or government support for people who lost everything and are struggling to start over. Related Stories For victims still recovering from Oregon’s 2020 Labor Day wildfires, millions in legal damages offer hope Residents will also be able to appeal their hazard classification before the map is finalized. Gasperini said it’ll likely take months before a draft version of the revised map is released. ![]() And Gasperini said additional community meetings will also be scheduled, especially focused in high wildfire hazard areas. Meetings are expected to be held in eight Oregon counties with county and local officials to share the revised maps and gather feedback. Golden has said previously that insurance companies already have their own wildfire risk maps, and don’t need a state map to make decisions on policies related to wildfire risk.īoth he and the Oregon Department of Forestry say there will be a lot more community involvement this time, to ensure people understand how the map was developed. The bill also requires that if insurance companies decide to cancel or decline to renew a homeowner insurance policy or increase the premiums in part because of wildfire risk, homeowners need to be given an explanation of: specific reasons the wildfire risk was a factor, mitigation measures the homeowner could have taken and information about the insurers wildfire risk classification system, if any. Lawmakers attempted to address that concern with Senate Bill 82, which passed earlier this year and bans insurance companies from using a state wildfire risk map as the basis for canceling a homeowner insurance policy or increasing premiums. Some were worried about increasing rates or having their insurance plans canceled based on the wildfire risk map. Insurance was a major concern among residents last year. ![]() ![]() The map now uses three so-called “hazard” classes instead of five “risk” levels. Golden said people shouldn’t expect dramatic changes to the wildfire risk of their property in the revised map, however there may be some adjustments based on past feedback. To do our jobs and to know where to put limited resources, and to know where to give guidance, we can’t get by without a map.” “And a lot of people aren’t going to like being in a high hazard zone. ![]() Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, who spearheaded the creation of the map. “There’s some real challenges ahead,” said state Sen. ![]()
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