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About Applegater. (Jacksonville, OR) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2011)
Applegater Summer 2011 19 The Applegate then and now — Have we changed much? By sanDy shaFFeR As part of a larger two-county project conducted by the Rogue Valley Fire Prevention Cooperative (RVFPC), residents of the Applegate Watershed (Jackson and Josephine Counties only) were recently surveyed by mail regarding wildfire and forest issues. Three other “communities” were also surveyed at the same time this spring, and you’ll probably be hearing about this project quite a bit through our local media. However, I wanted to share some comparisons with you Applegate Watershed residents because we had also conducted public opinion surveys in 2003-04, and I found some interesting comparisons with this spring’s survey. Compared to seven years ago One of the biggest changes in the mail surveys done in 2004 and 2011 was the response rate. In 2004 we averaged an overall 28% return rate; this year our overall Applegate response rate was 45%! This return rate “exceeded the national standard for mail-in surveys” according to Southern Oregon University’s Research Center (SOURCE), which implemented our survey this spring. This dramatic response can be attributed to the strong outreach and education programs that the RVFPC and the local fire plan groups have implemented over the past decade. Demographically, our average age is seven years older (duh…), our education levels are slightly lower, the size of our households has shrunk to two persons, and more than three-fourths of us live on property in the 1-to-20-acre range. Thirty- six percent of the Applegate respondents have lived in southern Oregon for over 30 years, with another 17% here 21-30 years. Se v e n y e a r s a g o , 2 0 % o f respondents in the Applegate had never we Applegaters differentiate between heard of the term “defensible space.” smoke from wildfires in the summer and Today, 97% of Applegaters responding that from prescribed burn treatments in to the survey said they had created a the off-season. The answer is yes we do, defensible space around their home, and but our view has shifted a bit. Between 90% said that they were also maintaining 2004 and now, the number of Applegaters it each year. Quite a change! The top who feel that smoke from wildfires is a three reasons for doing so were basically serious issue rose 17%. Those who feel the same in 2004 and this year: home and that smoke from prescribed fires is an issue property protection, rose by 20%. So, even personal safety, and though significantly wonder whether the high ranking responsibility as a more people (24% in 2004 was because we had p ro p e r t y ow n e r. total) consider smoke Interestingly, the wildfires on federal lands here in the from wildfires a more fact that there is a applegate… serious issue than from state law requiring prescribed fires, the defensible space, and fact that both numbers what our neighbors might or might not be are going up is an indication of attitude doing, were not strong factors for creating changes. Perhaps this is because the federal one’s defensible space. land managers have been doing so much In both surveys we asked where thinning, pile-burning and under-burn folks get information about forest maintenance out here to reduce the hazard conditions and wildfires, and the results in our federal forests. have changed over time. In 2004, We also asked again this year newspapers (including the Applegater) were what needs or issues were top priority to No. 1, state and county agencies were No. Applegate residents, and while there were 2, and federal land management agencies changes, these were not a surprise, at least to tied with television for the No. 3 spot. In me. In 2004, Jackson County Applegaters 2011, television was No. 1, newspapers ranked fuel reduction, limiting land were No. 2, and radio was No. 3. development and environmental protection Interestingly, federal agencies as No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, dropped from third to eighth place as an with public safety (traffic) ranked No. 4. information resource. I wonder whether Those in Josephine County named fuel the high ranking in 2004 was because we reduction and limiting land development had wildfires on federal lands here in the as No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, with job/ Applegate and federal land managers were economic development and environmental out providing timely information to us protection tied for No. 3. during those events. We haven’t (as I write This year Jackson County residents this) had a major fire incident for several named jobs/economic development, years. education, sustainable water supply and Another question that was environmental protection as their top repeated in this year’s survey was whether four (in that order). Josephine County I folks had slightly different priorities. They named jobs/economic development as No. 1, followed by education, public safety (other than traffic), and sustainable water supply. Compared to other Communities? This year our survey allowed us to compare the Applegate with three other communities that received the exact same surveys: the Greensprings area, the Seven Basins Watersheds, and Ashland’s Wildfire Hazard Zone. All communities had fantastic, record-breaking response rates—again attributable to the high degree of public outreach in the areas. Ashland’s rate was a whopping 59% - probably due in part, to the recent Oak Knoll Fire! There were a couple of things that stood out about the Applegate’s responses, but not as much as I had expected. Our responses were actually very similar to those from the Seven Basins Watersheds, particularly in the size of parcels we own, and our top local priority needs. Also, our perception of and concern about personal risk from wildfires were both lower than that of Greensprings and Ashland areas. Maybe that’s because the Applegate had the highest percentage of folks who had created defensible space? And, 62% responded that they do have an evacuation plan in place! We’re ready, right?! We also were more concerned about noxious weeds and smoke from prescribed fire treatments than the other communities. And, the responses showed that we were more aware of State Senate Bill #360, so the Oregon Department of Forestry should be pleased with us! This fall, we in the RVFPC hope to survey several other communities in the two-county area to further help everyone address wildfire issues in the Rogue Valley. We sincerely thank all of you Applegaters who participated in this survey, and here’s to a quiet summer fire season! Sandy Shaffer RVFPC Wildfire Survey Project Manager 541-899-9541 When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the fire department usually uses water. Loyal Readers ~ Please patronize our wonderful advertisers and let them know you saw their ad in the Applegater.
