Tag: Fire Safety

EWEB’s Wildfire Resiliency Work

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Next SHiNA Neighborhood Meeting – 10/21, 6:30 PM at Wayne Morse Family Farm

This program is rescheduled from our August general meeting. Jeannine Parisi is the Resiliency Program Manager for EWEB. She will provide a general EWEB overview and describe resiliency and wildfire mitigation work especially with regard to power shutdowns and unexpected power outages due to weather events (ice storms).

Most of us remember the Holiday Farm Fire of 2020 where fire erupted quickly and spread westward from the Blue River area through Ben and Kay Dorris Park. How has this experience affected EWEB’s response to wildfire and preparation in case this type of event occurs again? What procedures does EWEB have in place? What is their role?

Join us at the Wayne Morse Family Farm Living Room on Tuesday, October 21, 6:30 p.m.
595 Crest Drive, Eugene

Wildfire Policy Forum October 2

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The Eugene Chamber of Commerce is hosting their September Policy Forum Breakfast on the Oregon Approach to Wildfire – an important topic for our neighborhood which lies at the urban-wildland interface. The forum is this week – on Thursday, October 2nd, from 7:00–9:30 AM – at the Eugene Country Club.  

This forum will offer a rare opportunity to better understand not only how Oregon fights wildfires, but why the stakes keep rising—and what can be done to change the outcome. It will provide business and community leaders with an informed perspective on how Oregon is safeguarding its forests, deploying resources effectively, and building fire-resilient communities.

We think SHiNA Neighbors interested in learning more about Oregon’s Wildfire Policy will gain a lot from attending this forum! You can find out more about the event and register here.

Next SHiNA Meeting 4/15: Eugene Fire Fee Referendum

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SHiNA will hold a community conversation with City Councilor Matt Keating, Budget Committee Chair Tai Pruce-Zimmerman & Chamber of Commerce President Brittany Quick-Warner who will explain the issue.
The Fire Fee Referendum may be on the ballot for a special election in August. Come and find out what this means for the community. Q & A to follow. 

TUESDAY, APRIL 15 at 6:30 PM
Wayne Morse Family Farm
595 Crest Drive, Eugene in the Shelter (weather permitting)
OR ZOOM: https://tinyurl.com/3hya8xpc

Learn more about the Fire Fee in advance on the City of Eugene’s website.

May, 2024 Wildfire Response Meeting – Video Available

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Our May 16th, 2024 General Meeting was a Community Conversation at Hilyard Community Center focused on Wildfire Response. The conversation was focused on the following questions:

• What agencies provide what response if Eugene South Hills catches fire this summer?  
• What evacuation routes are designated? 
• Where have fire breaks in the south hills been created? 
• What is involved in maintaining them? 
• What other mitigation work has been done? 
• What can a homeowner do to minimize risk? 

The video of the entire meeting can be found on Youtube here. 

Explaining each agency’s role are panelists from

  • Eugene Springfield Fire
  • Oregon Department of Forestry
  • Eugene Parks and Open Spaces
  • City of Eugene
  • Northwest Youth Corps

A big thank you to John Q of Whole Community News for making the video available. 

The SHiNA Board wants to acknowledge and thank Ian Appow of ECO Solutions for organizing this event. And last but not least, the well-prepared panelists, experts and leaders of their agencies.

May 15th General Meeting: Reducing Wildfire Risk

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A Community Conversation about Reducing Wildfire Risk and the SW Hills of Eugene

SHiNA General Membership Meeting
Wednesday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Free and open to the Community

Hilyard Community Center
2580 Hilyard Street, Eugene

Please join us for the second in our series of Community Conversations on Emergency Preparedness on the topic of wildfire relative to the South Hills Neighborhood Association. A major part of being prepared is learning about what steps we as a community can take to reduce the opportunities for wildfires to start and spread. This meeting will feature representatives from local agencies speaking from each of their unique perspectives within their roles and organizations to provide insight on better adapting to the risk of wildfire in the South Hills area of Eugene. Handouts available.

Presented/Facilitated by Ian Appow, ECO System Solutions

Panelist from Eugene Springfield Fire, Oregon Department of Forestry, Eugene Parks and Open Spaces, City of Eugene, Northwest Youth Corps

Upcoming Neighborhood Meeting: Emergency Preparedness

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Tuesday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m.
Hilyard Community Center, 2580 Hilyard Street, Eugene

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What are public agencies doing to protect the South Hills?

What route will I take to escape a wildfire?

In case of wildfire, what are the priorities of the fire department?

In the vulnerable South Hills, these and other questions need to be considered. Recently, the community of Lahaina was forced to evacuate when a devastating wildfire destroyed that town. It is our responsibility to be informed and prepared for appropriate action.

Please join us for a community discussion on emergency response. Panelists from various agencies will explain their role. There will be time for questions. To send questions for the panelists in advance, use this google form.

Panelists:

  • Matt Keating, our Eugene City Councilor
  • Sierra Anderson, City of Eugene Emergency Management Program Manager 
  • Cary Lieberman, Executive Director at Greenhill Humane Society (and working on disaster safety for animals in Lane County), Lane County Community Organizations that Aid in Disaster (COAD)
  • Janina Rager, Eugene Police Department Community Engagement

SHiNA General Membership Meeting
Tuesday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m.
Free and open to the Community
Hilyard Community Center, 2580 Hilyard Street, Eugene

Topics for future meetings will focus on other aspects of emergency preparedness: fire mitigation, role of Red Cross, FEMA, defensible space, etc.