The Rowena Fire and Burdoin Fires affected communities along the Oregon and Washington sides of the Columbia River. Many of the structures destroyed were part of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The region has legal protections in place to preserve its natural and recreational resources, although the areas typically have some people already living there. 

The Columbia River Gorge Commission helps create and enforce policies that preserve this area. Krystyna Wolniakowski is the executive director of the commission. Alex Johnson is a commissioner. They join us with more on what rebuilding looks like in a region with special protections and how the commission is working with property owners and residents on post-fire recovery.