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.
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