Oregon lawmakers have decided to repeal the state’s wildfire hazard map, a move that changes how fire risk is managed for homeowners in certain high-risk areas. The map, which had placed stricter rules on building and vegetation near homes, especially in wildland-urban interface zones, will no longer be the basis for statewide regulations.
The repeal passed the Oregon House almost unanimously on Tuesday, with just one vote against it. The state Senate had agreed earlier in April with a unanimous vote. The bill now awaits the signature of Governor Tina Kotek, a Democrat.
The map had been controversial since its release. Created by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon State University scientists, it aimed to identify areas most at risk from wildfires. Homeowners living in these zones faced new building codes, like adding fire-resistant materials, and requirements to clear vegetation around their properties. The maps covered about 6% of Oregon’s roughly 1.9 million tax lots. This was a smaller area than a previous version pulled back in 2022 after people worried it might raise insurance costs.
Republican lawmakers had pushed hard for the repeal all session, saying the map caused confusion and difficulty, especially in rural parts of the state. Republican House Minority Leader Christine Drazan said the map created “chaos” and praised those who voted to remove it. Supporters of the map, including some experts, argue it was a necessary step to help protect communities from the increasing threat of wildfires. Oregon saw a record wildfire season last year, with huge costs and damage, and deadly fires over the Labor Day weekend in 2020 that killed nine people and destroyed many homes.
Under a law passed in 2023, insurance companies can’t use the wildfire hazard map to cancel or refuse homeowner policies or raise premiums. Still, critics felt the maps were flawed and unfairly burdened property owners.
With the repeal, the state will no longer enforce those building and vegetation rules statewide. Instead, state agencies will be asked to develop model codes, which local governments can choose to use if they want. This approach gives communities more control in how they prepare for wildfire risks.
For context, states like California, Arizona, and New Mexico have had wildfire hazard maps for a long time. Neighboring Washington recently started working on such a map, and Colorado set up a wildfire resiliency board last year. Oregon’s move to repeal the statewide map is a different path but reflects ongoing debates about how best to handle wildfire dangers while balancing homeowner concerns.
The decision marks a significant shift as Oregon continues to face serious wildfire threats. How local areas will respond moving forward remains to be seen, but the focus now is on giving them the choice of how to manage the risks in their communities.