Landowners and federal agencies in rural Oregon don’t always have the best relationships, especially when it comes to fire management. But as first reported in the Blue Mountain Eagle newspaper, landowners and managers in Grant County have been working with state and federal agencies to reduce wildfire risk. The Top Road Fuel Break project would clear vegetation from a stretch of public land that abuts private homes and ranches — both reducing the amount of potential fuel for future wildfires and protecting the surrounding communities.

James Osborne is the fire management officer for the Bureau of Land Management’s Prineville District. Irene Jerome has long served as the Firewise coordinator for Grant County. And Bill Newman is the manager of Top Ranch, near Monument. They were all involved in the project, and join us to share more details.