Following the hiring of a grant coordinator, Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District announced its kick-off event from funds delivered by the CWDG grant.
Maddie Tutton was recently hired by SHFAD as a coordinator for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG), which has delivered more than $8 million to the county for wildfire prevention.
Born in Newport Beach, Calif., Tutton said she “traded the coast for the Pacific Northwest” in order to attend the University of Washington where she “discovered a deep appreciation for forests.”
Tutton graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and Resource Management, then began her career as a seasonal wildland firefighter based in Eugene where she “developed a strong passion” for fire management.
Between seasons, she planted trees in New Jersey, then served as a Forestry Fellow with the Sierra Nevada Alliance, coordinating reforestation efforts across the Sierra Nevada.
It was in that role that she collaborated with public, private and nonprofit partners, including
CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service, Southern California Edison and private landowners.
Following her fellowship, she joined Sierra Pacific Industries as a Reforestation Specialist and worked on prescribed fire, fuels mitigation and reforestation projects in the South Sierras.
Last year, Tutton returned to Oregon for another season on a hand crew, continuing to build her experience in wildland fire.
“While I remain passionate about fire, my greatest commitment is to prevention – protecting forests, ecosystems and communities from the increasing threat of wildfire,” she said.
With new funds coming into Linn County from the CWDG, wildfire preparedness efforts are ramping up.
The $8.7 million grant provided through the USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program funds a five-year project, “Wildfire Ready Linn County,” led by the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District.
The project is a partnership between SHFAD, Lebanon Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry, South Santiam Watershed Council, Calapooia Watershed Council and Linn County Juvenile Department, with support from OSU Extension’s Fire Program, Linn County’s Planning Department, Linn County’s Emergency Management Department and Oregon State Fire Marshal.
The collaborative effort aims to create more fire-adapted communities, reduce hazardous fuels and increase wildfire preparedness by:
- Creating more fire-adapted communities – Building long-term capacity through a shared fuels project database, an ODF community wildfire forester position, and expanded property assessments.
- Reducing hazardous fuels – Funding professional and youth crews to complete free defensible space work around at-risk residences and offering free community chipper days.
- Increasing wildfire preparedness – Hosting community wildfire preparedness events, delivering K–12 fire education to nearly 1,000 students annually, and supporting neighborhood-level wildfire preparedness efforts.
The goal is to complete more than 850 home assessments, treat 325 properties for defensible space and educate thousands of Linn County residents on wildfire preparedness.
“With this collaborative approach, we are laying the foundation in creating a more wildfire-resilient Linn County,” Tutton said.
SHFAD is kicking off its work with a free workshop this month to help homeowners through its “Wildfire Ready Linn County” program. They will host a free half-day workshop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, at Sankey Park to teach residents what they can do to prepare their homes and families for wildfires.
It will include discussion topics such as home hardening, defensible space around your home and evacuation preparedness, and will conclude with a hot dog feed and resource fair to connect residents with local resources.
Register online at forms.gle/iwqmofbHKs2oNHNk6 or contact Maddie Tutton at [email protected].