The high desert is vast. It is threatened. It is also called home. Fire is a natural part of life here. For half of the year, people living miles apart come together through Rangeland Fire Protection Associations to protect the landscape and livelihoods.
If a fire broke out in your neighborhood, do you know who would show up to help? Who would be on the water truck, or the phone lines? In eastern Oregon, the answer is usually neighbors. Neighbors help neighbors fight fire across millions of acres of public and private land. Homes, businesses, ranches, and conservation areas are protected by federal and state partnerships and local volunteers of Rangeland Fire Protection Associations or RFPAs.
“It doesn’t matter if you have a little single-wide trailer and a puppy or a big ranch. We’re all in it together. We’ll protect the livelihood of people as the fire moves toward them,” said Cody Henricks, Fields-Andrews RFPA Fire Supervisor and President. “Keeping these fires down to size, just protecting the wilderness too, the animal habitat, it kind of protects everything.”
Fire plays a natural role in shrub-steppe landscapes. However, the wildfire cycle has accelerated throughout much of the West due to an increase in invasive grasses, such as cheatgrass and medusahead, land use effects and a changing climate. Effective fire suppression tactics are critical to reduce the size and frequency of severe wildfires and keep the remaining sagebrush system intact.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for wildfire suppression on millions of acres, but responses have been challenging in remote areas. RFPAs emerged to assist. They often provide rapid initial attack, as ranchers may be the first to reach a wildfire start, and are valued for their dedication, and local knowledge of the landscapes and road systems.
Landowners can voluntarily form RFPAs as nonprofit organizations to protect private and state lands if they otherwise lack fire protections. State and federal agencies, including the BLM and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), partner to provide equipment, training, and organizational support.
The Oregon Desert Land Trust is a member of five RFPAs across southeast Oregon and we gladly pay dues to have our properties safeguarded by neighbors. Cody Henricks is one of our neighbors and was elected president of Fields-Andrews RPFA three years ago.
“It’s an honor to do it,” he said. “It’s pretty tough to find people that want to be a part of an RFPA. We don’t have very many people that live down here and everyone is so busy all the time. We’re pretty fortunate to have the amount of members that we do.”
As of mid 2022, Oregon has 25 RFPAs, with two more on the way. Ironside RFPA was the first. It started in 1964 in Malheur County and was the sole RFPA for 34 years. 1998 sparked a new era and interest for these important groups. The Fields-Andrews RFPA of Harney County was part of this new era. Cody is proud to work alongside nearly 20 volunteers in the field. His involvement started in 2008 with Crane RFPA. A decade later, he continues to be impressed with the skills and efforts of his fellow first responders, his neighbors.
Trained members can receive vehicles from ODF that are kept at their homes for immediate dispatch. Spreading out resources quickens RFPA response times while BLM fire teams take to the roads or skies to join each fight. Every spring, refresher courses are offered in Burns, Oregon and partnerships are strengthened across the region. Both are vital for smooth operations and to protect the landscape and lifestyles of the high desert.
Cody appreciates the remoteness, the beautiful country and the good people. He grew up in Crane and has fond memories of visiting his grandparents in Fields. “I always told them I’d come down and run the ranch for them when I was a little kid, and now I’m doing it,” he shared. Cody and his parents, Hollie and Ty, run Cottonwood Ranch throughout the year. During fire season, he’ll be moving cows one minute, and heading across the county the next. “From May through October, it’s anytime, anywhere. We’ve had three fires in one day on a big thunderstorm, for three days, nonstop; no sleep, nothing, just fighting fire.”
While most people plan summer vacations, RFPA volunteers prepare for calls 24/7. Lightning is the typical cause, but car fires occur, especially when mixed with dry vegetation. Either can quickly spark into an incident command center and create a chain reaction of response across the desert. Collaborative efforts help reduce risks.
“It’s neighbors helping neighbors. Everybody here, it’s a pretty tight community all around,” said Cody. “We help out every way we can.”
If possible, RPFAs assist each other across county and state lines and members take on various roles, depending on who’s closest and what’s needed. The Cherry Gulch Fire in northern Nevada erupted the last weekend in August and Fields-Andrews RFPA was happy to help. Residents are also very willing to pitch in by viewing wildfire cameras and spreading news, especially as storms put locals on alert.
“I’ll get 20 phone calls when a thunderstorm comes through,” Cody explained. “People seeing lightning and where it’s raining at, so we have a pretty good idea of what’s going on in every inch of this county for the most part, just from the community, and the members, and the tools that we have to look for fires.”
Even while regional fires intensify, many folks feel more prepared than ever before, both physically and figuratively. Tensions that were once common between landowners and state and federal agencies are also decreasing from shared goals and team efforts. Cody feels there is a better understanding from all sides.
“Just here in the last four or five years, maybe not even that long, the BLM got more on our side of the deal, helping out and with communication. It’s getting better and better every year as everyone is trained up, We’ve got radios and know how to use them,” shared Cody. “It’s pretty good. All the members are as good as you can ask for. Everybody has a lot of respect for everybody.
Feature image by Cody Henricks: The Cherry Gulch Fire in northern Nevada started near Mahogany Mountain on the north end of the Pine Forest Range. It burned 15,859 acres in three days.
Learn More
- The Northwest Fire Science Consortium shares info and supports partnerships.
- View a story map and findings from a study of local RFPA models.
- ODF shares wildfire news and activities on their blog.
- BLM has info on fire management and preventing wildfires on public lands.
- Learn about Oregon Wildfire Response and Recovery.
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