As Lane County residents, we’ve all experienced it: hazy orange skies, smoke smells that linger for days, and a persistent anxiety during dry, windy conditions. Wildfire and smoke are no longer seasonal rarities: they are now expected conditions.
To address these new realities, Lane County Emergency Management is taking a critical step to update our community’s playbook for this new era, and they need your help.
They are asking residents to take a short survey to share their personal experiences with wildfire and smoke. The goal is simple yet vital: to understand your perspective so the county can improve its support for us in preparing for and living with fire.
“We are working with agencies across the region to update the Lane County Community Wildfire Protection Plan,” explained Tiffany Brown, County Emergency Manager, in a press release last month. “Wildfire and smoke have become a fixture on the landscape in Lane County for much of the year, and updating our plan will help us better understand the risk and how to keep our communities safe from these hazards while allowing them to thrive into the future.”
This isn’t just bureaucratic paperwork. A successful Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is Lane County’s strategic playbook. It’s the guide that outlines how we enhance public safety, protect our local economy and critical infrastructure, restore forest health, and raise public awareness.
It educates landowners about their role and builds essential partnerships between fire agencies and community groups.
An up-to-date CWPP is a key that unlocks federal funding for hazard mitigation and recovery from sources like FEMA.
Our collective safety and resilience literally depend on having a strong, current plan.
Your voice is the most critical data point in this process. The survey is available in both English and Spanish through Oct. 17, 2025. Scan the QR codes in this article to access them.
Free compost event in the Grove
Join Waste Wise Lane County – a part of Lane County Waste Management – and the Center for Rural Livelihoods (CRL) at the CRL Community Educational Garden (1440 Birch Ave., Cottage Grove) for a Free Community Compost Event on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Come prepared with shovels, buckets, tarps, and any other necessary items to transport the compost. Free compost events will supply bulk compost (unbagged) to Lane County households (up to one cubic yard per household) while supplies last.
Note: We do not anticipate running out of compost, so please don’t rush to arrive early. We will have enough for everyone, and you don’t need to wait in line. Learn more at lanecountyor.gov/compost
Daniel Hiestand is the Waste Reduction Outreach Coordinator for Lane County and a columnist for The Chronicle.
