USDA Forest Service invests $57M in Oregon and Washington to reduce wildfire risk to communities

PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 24, 2025 – Communities that have limited resources and face high risk from wildfire are getting additional support from the USDA Forest Service. In an announcement made Sept. 23, Oregon and Washington will receive $57 million in Community Wildfire Defense grant awards, funding 10 projects across the two states.

These grants are part of more than $200 million being invested in 58 projects across 22 states and two tribes.

“These grants are about putting resources in the hands of those that know their lands and communities best, so that they can better protect their families, businesses, infrastructure and the future of our shared landscape,” said Agriculture Secretary Rollins. “Keeping forests healthy, resilient and productive doesn’t come from the top down, it comes from us standing alongside the people and communities we serve, and supporting practical, science-based management that ensures the future of the forests as well as rural prosperity.”

In total, the program is investing $1 billion over five years to assist at-risk communities, including tribal communities, non-profit organizations, state forestry agencies and Alaska Native Corporations with planning for and mitigating wildfire risks on lands not managed by federal agencies.

“No single organization can tackle the severe fire conditions we face today. It is imperative that we work together to protect our forest and communities,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “For those communities that already have plans in place, these investments will enable immediate action to reduce wildfire risk.”

Oregon projects funded

• Deschutes County — $3,439,362
  • La Pine Wildfire Mitigation Project: Collaborative effort to reduce fuels, improve evacuation routes, and increase wildfire preparedness for communities within the La Pine Rural Fire District through fuel treatments, education, and outreach.
• Douglas County Public Works — $6,124,970
  • Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project: Safeguarding Our Communities at Highest Risk of Wildfires: Roadside hazardous fuels reduction along 117.5 miles, hazard tree removals, and equipment purchases to improve long-term vegetation management.
• Oregon Department of Forestry — $2,359,909
  • Cave Junction-Takilma-Illinois Valley Mira Fuels Mitigation Project: Thinning ladder fuels, implementing prescribed fire, training landowners, and enhancing defensible space across more than 800 acres, with added workshops and Firewise community support.
• Oregon Department of Forestry — $2,624,890
  • South Lane Wildfire Risk Reduction: Focused fuels reduction on private lands in Lane County and public education to promote defensible space and wildfire awareness.
• Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District — $8,711,040
  • Wildfire Ready Linn County: Strategic fuels management, increased defensible space work, and expanded resources to help at-risk communities reduce wildfire risk.
• Wallowa County Water and Soils Conservation District — $5,252,344
  • Wallowa Valley Resiliency Project: Implementing fuels treatments, defensible space on 2,800 acres, prescribed fire on 350 acres, installing 10 dry hydrants, and holding educational Firewise events.

Washington projects funded

• Columbia Land Trust — $9,672,839
  • Reducing Hazardous Fuel Conditions within the Yakama Indian Reservation: Mechanical thinning and prescribed fire across 4,894 acres of private lands to reduce wildfire hazard potential and protect nearby communities and resources.
• Okanogan County Electric Cooperative — $4,210,310
  • Vegetation Management and Fuels Reduction Project: Clearing rights-of-way along 180 miles of power lines, removing hazard trees, and supporting landowners with vouchers to replace trees with fire-resistant species.
• Spokane Conservation District — $9,258,647
  • Spokane County Wildfire Education and Prevention Program: Dual strategy of Firewise outreach and defensible space treatments across 3,000 acres through cost-share programs and community partnerships.
• Spokane Valley Fire Department — $5,500,194
  • Wildfire Resilience in Spokane Valley: Comprehensive approach to reduce wildfire risks through capacity building, public education, and mitigation treatments in vulnerable neighborhoods.

For more information on funded proposals, visit the Forest Service website.

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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