Oregon Public Broadcasting

Two years ago, Portland parks received a grant of nearly a million dollars from FEMA to reduce the risk of wildfire in natural areas around the city.

Pete Springer has an update about how the program has been going.

The city has conducted a handful of controlled burns in Oaks Bottom and Powell Butte since receiving the money.

Parks ecologist Mark Wilson says these burns not only reduce wildfire risk, but also help native plants—most of which are adapted to fire.

Mark Wilson “We chose with this FEMA funded grant to accentuate fire, at least for the first couple of years.”

But Wilson points out that some invasive, non-native plants are also adapted to fire and seem to grow back faster than the native plants after a burn.

Mark Wilson “Fire is not, by itself, a control technique for invasive species.”

So, to limit the use of fire, the city has also been removing blackberries and other dry brush that burn hot and fast.

And crews use herbicides in areas such as Forest Park, where burning could be risky.

Wilson says there will be more controlled burns next summer before the FEMA money runs out.