(1) The Legislative Assembly finds that:
(a) The forestland-urban interface situation in Oregon is a result of both past and present conditions and that, given projected trends, the forestland-urban interface situation will continue to grow.
(b) Urban and suburban structures, real property and natural resources are subject to increased risks of catastrophic damage by forestland-urban interface fire events.
(c) There is greater complexity in forestland-urban interface fire protection than in either resource land fire protection or urban structural fire protection.
(d) In dealing with the forestland-urban interface situation, major and long term solutions will involve local actions and efforts by property owners.
(e) One solution or set of solutions will not fit all situations or areas of the state.
(2) The Legislative Assembly declares that:
(a) In order to ensure the protection of human life, the safety of citizens and fire service personnel and the highest possible level of livability in Oregon, it is necessary to provide a complete and coordinated fire protection system within the forestland-urban interface in Oregon.
(b) All forestland-urban interface property owners have a basic responsibility to share in this complete and coordinated protection system by providing efforts against fire.
(c) Public and property owner education and awareness is critical to forestland-urban interface solutions and must occur at multiple levels.
(d) In administration of ORS 477.015 to 477.061, it is the intent of the Legislative Assembly that property owners who will be affected by ORS 477.015 to 477.061 will be:
(A) Involved in the processes of development of administrative rules pursuant to ORS 477.015 to 477.061; and
(B) Notified of the outcomes of classification pursuant to ORS 477.015 to 477.057.
(3) The purpose of ORS 477.015 to 477.061 is to:
(a) Provide a forestland-urban interface fire protection system in Oregon that minimizes cost and risk while maximizing effectiveness and efficiency for protection of the values at risk from fire.
(b) Promote and encourage property owner efforts to minimize and mitigate fire hazards and risks within the forestland-urban interface.
(c) Promote and encourage the involvement and interaction of all levels of government and the private sector that have a direct or indirect interest and role in the forestland-urban interface situation over the long term. [1997 c.429 §§4,5,7; 2007 c.30 §1]
Section: Previous 477.009 477.010 477.012 477.013 477.014 477.015 477.016 477.017 477.020 477.022 477.023 477.024 477.025 477.026 477.027 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008