Forest Park Wildfire Risk Reduction Project

Who is the grant from, and who is the recipient? 

The City of Portland received grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) via the Oregon Office of Emergency Management under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).  

Funding supports Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R), Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), and the Forest Park Conservancy (FPC) in working together to reduce the risk and impact of wildfire in Forest Park through fuel reduction in high priority areas of the park and community outreach. 

What are the grant funds for? 

The grant funds will decrease both the risk of a wildfire in and around Forest Park and the negative impacts if a fire were to occur. Anything that can burn is fuel for a fire. Forest management contractors will reduce fuel (dead wood, ladder fuels, brush, and low limbs) and restore portions of Forest Park. Grant funds will also be used to provide communities living near the project area with wildfire-related information and resources. 

What work will happen in Forest Park, and why? 

Professional forest management contractors, directed by the City of Portland, will remove invasive plants (non-native plants that are harmful and disruptive to the natural ecosystem) and high-risk fuels (burnable materials that contribute a significant threat in the event of a wildfire), from Forest Park near the residential neighborhoods in the Linnton area. This work will include:  

• Cutting ivy and clematis vines off of trees; 
• Controlling blackberry and ground ivy with herbicide; 

• Removing weedy trees like holly and laurel; 
• Removing dead wood and pruning trees near homes; 
• Plant native species and remove invasive species.  

Removal of these invasive plants and high-risk fuels will help mitigate the potential for a wildfire to spread, or start in the first place. Plants like English ivy, for example, can be “ladder fuels”. This means that it can carry fire up into the canopy of trees where it can more easily spread. By mitigating these risk factors and improving the health of the park and surrounding areas, we can help lessen the threat posed by wildfire. 

What work will happen on private property near Forest Park, and why? 

PF&R, PP&R, and FPC will provide wildfire risk reduction information and resources to neighboring communities. 

This work will include:  

• Mailing and handing out flyers; 
• Presentations at community meetings; 
• Direct outreach to neighbors to talk about wildfire risk mitigation; 

• And social media updates. 

Project teams will provide information about: 

• FPC’s Canopy Weed Program which helps private landowners control unwanted invasive plants such as tree ivy on their property; 
• PF&R’s Wildland-Urban Interface Home Assessment Program, which provides free advice on reducing fire risk around the home. 
• Information about the local Firewise community groups. 

If you have any questions about the work that will take place in Forest Park and the specifics of ecological restoration, contact the PP&R project manager: Marshall Johnson at 503-310-0223 or Marshall.Johnson@portlandoregon.gov. 

Are you cutting down trees? 

This work does include cutting down harmful non-native trees in Forest Park, such as holly, laurel, and non-native cherry, and hawthorn. It does not include cutting down native trees. If recommended by PF&R to increase the fire safety of a home, pruning of native trees in the park may occur. On rare occasions, dead native standing trees may be removed if they have been identified as a fire risk.   

If you have questions about a hazardous tree, please contact the Urban Forestry Department. A hazardous tree is one that is in danger of falling or dropping limbs that could hurt people or property. You may report the tree and request an inspection, or for help with permitting and management of the tree. Contact them by email at: trees@portlandoregon.gov, or by phone at: 503-823-8733. 

If you have any other questions about the work that will take place in Forest Park and the specifics of ecological restoration, contact the PP&R project manager: Marshall Johnson at 503-310-0223 or Marshall.Johnson@portlandoregon.gov. 

Can you remove a tree on my property or Parks property near my home? 

The City of Portland’s Urban Forestry Department will respond during all hours to tree emergencies that block or pose an imminent threat to the public in the right-of-way (street or sidewalk) or on City-managed land (parks, etc.). Call Urban Forestry at 503-823-TREE (8733) (available 24/7) to report a tree emergency. Press #1 for the Tree Emergency Hotline. 

If the tree exists on private property and is NOT blocking City-managed land, Urban Forestry suggests that you contact an arborist. Click here for a list of local tree care providers. 

If you have any more questions or have tree concerns, contact Urban Forestry at 503-823-8733, trees@portlandoregon.gov or visit Portland.gov/trees. 

If you have any questions about the work that will take place in Forest Park and the specifics of ecological restoration, contact the PP&R project manager: Marshall Johnson at 503-310-0223 or Marshall.Johnson@portlandoregon.gov. 

Why is blue flagging being placed in/around Forest Park? 

You may have noticed blue flagging tied to branches in and around parts of Forest Park next to your neighborhood. PP&R has been marking the boundary of Forest Park with blue flags. This will guide contractors in their vegetation management work for wildfire risk reduction. 

The work will include removing dead wood, ladder fuels (fuels that if burned can carry fire into high growing vegetation), brush, and low limbs within 200 feet of structures. It will also include removing non-native plants like ivy, blackberry, clematis vines, holly, and laurel. Lastly, contractors will replant the area with native plants to improve the ecosystem health after removing some of these highly flammable and harmful invasive plants. 

Work started in the fall of 2021 and continues through 2024. 

If you have questions about flagging or the work that will take place in the park, contact the PP&R project manager: Marshall Johnson at 503-310-0223 or Marshall.Johnson@portlandoregon.gov. 

Are you using herbicide? 

PP&R will work with professional crews, to reduce invasive vegetation in Forest Park. The work includes cutting and the selective application of herbicide to invasive trees, shrubs, ground cover, and vines to remove these high-risk fuels and restore the natural ecosystem. State-licensed herbicide applicators will be supervised by PP&R staff under PP&R’s Integrated Pest Management program.  

Following this invasive plant removal work, contractors, staff, and volunteer crews will re-plant sites with native species to prevent erosion and restore healthier conditions. 

If you have any questions regarding the use of herbicide, contact the PP&R project manager: Marshall Johnson at 503-310-0223 or Marshall.Johnson@portlandoregon.gov. 

Is there a plan for if a fire breaks out in or around Forest Park? 

The mission of PF&R is to protect life, property, and the environment. Wildfires in an urban setting can be dangerous and difficult to control. Because of the number of structures and wildland settings, PF&R has less time to evacuate residents and protect personal property. There are plans in place, but the potential for loss of life and property is very real. 

To prepare your home against the threat of wildland fires, follow these three critical steps: 

Ready - Be Ready. Prepare for fire by creating defensible space around your home, assembling emergency supplies, and planning evacuation routes. 

Set - Situational awareness. As a fire approaches, stay alert and know how to receive the latest news and information. Sign up for PublicAlerts.org and download PulsePoint to receive early notification of an incident occurring in the area. PulsePoint allows you to listen in and follow an incident in your area, so you’ll know what’s happening. Have your “go bag” ready with essential supplies and prepare to evacuate if necessary. 

Go! - Act early. By leaving early, you have the best chance of surviving a wildland fire. PF&R recommends leaving at a Level 2 evacuation notice, rather than waiting until it becomes a Level 3. You can also support firefighting efforts by keeping the area and roads clear of congestion. 

If you have any questions about the fire mitigation efforts contact Kim Kosmas at Kim.Kosmas@portlandoregon.gov. 

Who, how, and when will someone notify me to evacuate in case of a fire? 

Forest Park has unique risks and might present operational challenges for large-scale evacuations. During an emergency, you may be asked to evacuate your home. You may only have hours or just minutes to evacuate in case of an emergency. Pay attention to local alerts, and know what to expect if evacuation orders are issued. 

PublicAlerts can send you notifications about emergencies that affect you and your neighbors, such as wildfires. Multnomah County residents should go to PublicAlerts.org/signup and click on the link to Portland, Gresham, and Multnomah County. 

For more information on how to prepare for evacuation, visit PublicAlerts.org/evacuation. 

If you have any questions regarding evacuation, contact the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) at 503-823-4375 or https://www.portlandoregon.gov/pbem/. 

How can I get involved? 

Wildfire is influenced by both human and natural factors and requires a diverse and evolving set of strategies to reduce the impacts. PP&R, PF&R, and FPC are dedicated to providing residents with the tools to protect lives, property, and firefighters in the event of a wildfire.  

PF&R’s Wildland-Urban Interface Home Assessment program is one of the most effective tools available to homeowners looking to take active steps to mitigate and learn about their personal wildfire risks. The assessment includes an in-person walk around your property to customize specific recommendations. This can help you better understand the wildfire risks around your home and property. 

Call 503-823-3550 with any questions or visit this webpage to sign up for an assessment: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fire/80917. 

The City of Portland is also supporting participation in the Firewise USA® program. This program provides the knowledge and skills necessary to reduce impacts from wildfire. The Firewise USA® program helps communities achieve a high level of protection against wildfire. Find out how today by visiting firewise.org, or call PF&R at 503-823-3550 to ask for information about how your neighborhood can become Firewise USA®. 

As a Forest Park user: 

Awareness: Be aware of your entry and exit points when visiting the park so that you can get help or find the best escape route in the event of an emergency.

Action: Smoking is not allowed in Forest Park or other City of Portland parks, period. Whether recreating in Forest Park or other public lands, know the rules and act appropriately. Please do your part to prevent fire in Forest Park and wherever you go.

Alert: Report any fires, no matter the size, by calling 911. Be prepared to provide accurate and precise locations.

If you have any questions about getting involved with the work related to this grant, please contact us at info@forestparkconservancy.org.

When will the project be finished? 

While this work will be ongoing, the specific work related to this project started in the fall of 2021 and will continue through 2024.