Astoria, OR – As wildfires continue to threaten the Pacific Northwest, a small nonprofit in Sandy, Oregon is taking proactive steps to protect rural communities along the west slope of Mount Hood. With the region experiencing an alarming increase in wildfire intensity, including the record-breaking 1.9 million acres burned in Oregon last year, AntFarm’s Community Wildfire Defense Program has become a critical resource in reducing fire risks for vulnerable neighborhoods.
Launched with funding from state and federal sources, AntFarm’s initiative is aimed at mitigating the growing wildfire threat to rural areas, especially those along the Highway 26 corridor. This region, which runs through pockets of homes and businesses at the edge of the 1.1 million-acre Mt. Hood National Forest, is particularly susceptible to the devastating impact of wildfires.
The program provides wildfire defense planning, fire-risk assessments, and hands-on mitigation efforts, including tree cutting and brush clearing. The goal is to reduce the amount of combustible material that could fuel a fire, which is crucial in areas where dense forest and residential communities are closely interwoven.
Wildfires in these areas are particularly dangerous due to the risk of crown fires, where flames quickly spread from the forest floor to the treetops. In these conditions, a fire can become intense and difficult to control. AntFarm’s tree-cutting crews are working to minimize this risk by removing dead and overgrown branches that can act as ladders for the flames to climb into the canopy.
The process is no simple task. In densely packed neighborhoods, cutting down large trees can be hazardous, especially when structures, powerlines, and other obstacles are in close proximity. AntFarm’s crews scale trees, cutting limbs as they go, ensuring that each cut is done with the utmost caution. Before making each cut, crew members call out “headache!” to warn those below of falling debris. For taller trees, they use ropes to carefully lower the top of the tree to the ground if it’s too dangerous to let it fall freely.
The program also serves a dual purpose by providing valuable job training to local youth. Partnering with LeafcutterPNW, AntFarm trains young adults in forestry and wildfire prevention techniques. These youth start by performing manual labor, such as bucking logs with chainsaws and loading debris into chippers. As they gain experience, they progress to more technical skills, including tree climbing and topping trees, which requires a high level of expertise and safety precautions.
For many of these young participants, this training is not only a way to gain work experience but also an opportunity to contribute to their community’s safety. With over two dozen youth trained so far, AntFarm has created a pathway for the next generation of forestry professionals and wildfire fighters.
One of the most significant aspects of the Community Wildfire Defense Program is its commitment to providing these services at no cost to low-income, elderly, and disabled residents who are at high risk but may not have the means to mitigate these dangers on their own. To date, AntFarm has treated over 100 properties, providing much-needed fire protection for those who need it most.
As wildfires continue to escalate in Oregon, AntFarm’s proactive approach and dedication to community safety are shining examples of how local organizations can make a difference in the fight against wildfires. With more support and continued efforts, the hope is that these communities will be better prepared to face the challenges of a changing climate and increasing fire risk in the years ahead.
