MARK JOHNSON

OREGON HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE DISTRICT 52

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Rep. Mark Johnson
September 20, 2011	541-308-5306

REP. JOHNSON TOURS SITE OF DOLLAR LAKE FIRE

House to Hold Hearing on Fire Response and Management This Week

SALEM— Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Hood River) yesterday returned to the site of the Dollar Lake fire with U.S. Forest Service officials and members of the incident management team.  The group toured the frontlines as crews work to fully contain the fire and begin rehabilitating the forest.  Rep. Johnson said the Dollar Lake fire, combined with other fires over the past two years, will impact Mt. Hood’s north slope for years to come.

“As the fire moves into the mop-up phase residents of the Hood River Valley will be taking their own assessment of the tragedy,” Rep. Johnson said. “The pristine and untouched north side of Mt Hood has been altered for generations. It’s time for the Legislature and the Congress to assess how we manage our natural resources, and what the state and federal governments can do to prevent future catastrophes.”

Rep. Johnson has asked the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee to hold a hearing this week to review forest management techniques in Oregon.  As part of the September 22 hearing, he has asked U.S. Forest Service officials to answer questions about fire mitigation practices and the federal regulations that govern them.

“My intent is not to point fingers or assign blame over this tragic fire but to learn what might be done differently in the future that could avoid this type of tragic situation,” Rep. Johnson said.  “The Dollar Lake Fire points to the much larger issue of natural resource management. I know that many residents throughout the state of Oregon are frustrated with our inability to manage our state forests in a sustainable, responsible fashion. This would include thinning our forests to improve the health of the ecosystems and also creating much needed jobs through the processing of the timber that could be removed.”

According to officials, the fire has burned over 6,300 acres on the north side of Mount Hood, and the cost of fighting the fire and protecting other forest assets is now over $12 million. 

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