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Eugene -Springfield Area Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan 2. Hazard Descriptions infrastructure. Other areas, like northeast Springfield, have large areas with high vegetative fuel loads located close to developed and developing areas. Relative Fire Hazard maps are in Section 3. Areas in Eugene and Springfield are vulnerable to wildfire, depending on the following factors: Amount of vegetative fuel loads on the property, and the degree of continuity of fuel load (i.e. number of significant firebreaks). If properties are surrounded by large amounts of fuel without significant firebreaks, vulnerability to wildfire is greater. Risk may be particularly high if the fuel load is grass, brush, and smaller trees. These types of vegetation have low moisture levels in short -duration drought periods. • Degree of slope. Steeper slopes can allow fire to spread more rapidly than on flatter terrain. • Limitations in fire suppression capacity can increase vulnerability to wildfire incidents in Eugene and Springfield. Fire suppression capacity is affected by limited water supplies, personnel, apparatus, steep slopes, and long response times. • Access for firefighting apparatus and resident evacuation. Limited access and egress increase vulnerability. • Construction materials for infrastructure in the path of fire. • Maintenance of firebreaks and defensible space around structures. Oregon Wildfires Large scale wildfires in Oregon include the Long Draw fire and the Miller Homestead fire. The Long Draw and Miller homestead fires of 2002 were started by lightning and dry thunderstorms. The Long Draw fire burned over 500,000 acres in southeast Oregon and was the worst fire the State had seen in 150 years." The Bureau of Land Management owned most of the land. However, forty, mainly agricultural, property owners were affected.67 The Miller Homestead fire alone caused over $(2012)8 million in damage.68 66 Blackwood, Jeff D. Long Draw/Miller Homestead Fire Review. April 2013. htti)://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/long-draw.pd 67 Oregon.gov. Governor Kitzhaber announces funds to help repair fences, re -seed land, and retail rural jobs in Southeastern Oregon. http://www.oregon.gov/Qov/media room/pages/press releases/press 060613.aspx 68 Bureau of Land Management. BLM Oregon Post -Fire Recovery Plan. August 23, 2012. http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/bums/plans/files/NilleESRPlan l.pdf. http://www.denverpost.com/colorado/ci 23518579/officials-511-homes-burned-black-forest-fire 2-58 January 2020