Smith, Craig Introduce Bill to Create Forest Fire "Buffer Zones"
Legislation Makes Compensation Available for Damages from Wildfire Spread from Federal Land
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senators Larry Craig (R-ID) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) yesterday introduced the Enhanced Safety from Wildfire Act of 2003 to create buffer zones on federal land and to make it possible for non-federal land owners to receive compensation for property lost as a result of wildfire spreading from federal land that is not maintained in the forest health status known as Condition Class 1.
"Oregon's checkerboard land ownership pattern makes forest fires on federal land particularly menacing to property owners," said Smith."As another potentially severe and deadly fire season is upon us, it's imperative that we take effective measures to protect our forests."
In recent years, there has been a significant amount of property loss resulting from the spread of wildfire from federal forested lands to non-federal lands. Lands managed under approved forest health management practices are less susceptible to damaging wildfire, or are subjected to less severe wildfire, than similarly forested lands that are not actively managed.
"Oregon landowners are tired of footing the bill for federal mismanagement," said Smith. "Damage to property by wildfire has a devastating effect on the economy and for the farmers and foresters that are already struggling to survive. This bill reduces the intensity of wildfire and provides a safety net for neighbors of federal lands."
The Act requires the management of a buffer zone on federal land adjacent to non-federal land. When wildfire occurs on inadequately forested federal lands that do not have a buffer zone, owners will be eligible for compensation for damages resulting from the spread of wildfire to their lands.
The use of approved forest health management practices to create forest fire buffer zones between forested federal lands and adjacent non-federal lands would reduce the occurrence of wildfires on forested federal lands or, at least, limit their spread to non-federal lands and the severity of the resulting damage.
