A bicyclist rides along the Bear Creek Greenway in Phoenix. Part of the State Fire Marshal grants targets removal of Almeda Fire debris along the greenway, plus risk-reduction work on other portions of the path.

Creation of defensible spaces along greenways in Medford, removal of fire debris along the Bear Creek Greenway, and better access for emergency workers to elderly and disabled residents in Prospect are among projects a new round of grants from the State Fire Marshal’s Office will fund in Jackson County.

A total of $2.46 million is coming to 11 county organizations. Several recipients are collaborating on projects.

Across the state, 106 organizations were offered funding totaling $18 million in Community Wildfire Risk Reduction grants. Projects receiving funding include community wildfire defensible space programs, vegetation removal around buildings, community chipping programs, community education on wildfire preparedness, equipment for vegetation removal and staff to support the efforts.

Local recipients include:

• City of Butte Falls, $50,000
• City of Gold Hill, $140,000
• City of Jacksonville, $28,980
• City of Talent, $186,800
• Medford Fire Department, $347,589
• City of Phoenix, $247,600
• Firebrand Resiliency Collective, $164,399
• Jackson County, $485,600
• Jackson County Fire District 3, $350,000
• Jackson County Fire District 4 and Prospect Rural Fire Protection District, $500,000
• Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative, $12,100

Prospect Rural Fire Protection District and Fire District 4 in Shady Cove received a grant for joint work that will improve property access and provide roadway clearing and some road improvement work over the next three years. Both Prospect and Shady Cove are heavily wooded. The two districts had already jointly purchased a chipper and dump trailer for fuels-reduction work.

“It benefits some of the disabled and elderly. People will be able to get into their property and their driveways through clearing for better access,” said Kathleen Connor, a grant writer for the Prospect district. “It will provide employment for some of the young men and women around here who are interested in doing some of the work. It’s a boon to our little economy.”

Prospect’s all-volunteer department receives grants to hire fire personnel for the summer. The latest grant will allow personnel to perform the fuels-reduction work, extending the amount of time they will be able to be in the community to respond to emergencies.

Medford will spend $250,000 of its award to create defensible spaces along greenways in various parts of the city to protect adjacent homes and businesses. The work will be done on the Lone Pine, Navigators Landing, Crooked Creek, Lazy Creek and Larson Creek greenways to remove ladder fuels and reduce densities to prevent a spread of fires.

The Bear Creek Greenway is not included because the city is anticipating a FEMA federal grant for similar work there, said Medford Emergency Manger Aaron Ott. A contract has yet to be signed with the State Fire Marshal. Clearing work likely won’t begin until after fire season ends.

Another $36,000 will be spent for evacuation route signage for areas with limited egress, such as in the east hills, and signs that will display fire danger levels in high-risk areas. The rest of the money will be spent to support two annual chipper days over the next three years. They will allow home owners to take debris to centralized locations where it will be turned into chips.

Jackson County, Phoenix and Talent will pool funds and collaborate to clear Almeda Fire debris from the Bear Creek Greenway.

“There are lots of dead trees. A good majority have started breaking off at their tops,” said Steve Lambert, parks director with Jackson County. The debris created could block access for emergency and fire personnel. Besides cleaning up the debris and removing hazards, the work will create fire breaks.

The county and cities consulted with emergency services providers, including Jackson County Fire District 5, and restoration work organizations while developing the proposal.

“The county will pretty much deliver the project for the cities, and the county will develop a scope of work. It will all be contracted work,” said Lambert. “The public wants visibility along the greenway. If we can get in there and accomplish some of that, it will be great.”

Jackson County will allocate all of its award toward greenway work. Lambert expects the work will begin in fall after fire season ends. He said he hopes the project can be completed before fire season begins next year.

Butte Falls will use its award to buy a commercial wood chipper and dump trailer to help with fuels-management activities.

Fire District 3 will spend $150,000 of its grant for operation of flammable vegetation drop-off sites at two district stations for three years. With the other $200,000, the district will establish a fuels crew to work on defensible spaces for three years.

A pilot drop-off program that allows residents to bring fuels to its Dodge Bridge station was started three years ago, said Chief Mike Hussey. The program proved so popular the district had to hire a contractor to run the operation. The new program will continue with a contractor and add a second site at the Agate Lake station.

The fuels crew will be a pilot program to create a five-person crew working on areas where there is a need. The district has identified where there are barriers to people working on their own defensible spaces, said Hussey. The district’s board has matched the $200,000 grant to help the program. Operations probably won’t begin until this fall after fire season ends.

Gold Hill will use its award for fuels reduction work. The city will be talking with Fire District 3 about the best way to maximize the money, said interim City Manager Adam Hanks.

In Phoenix, $50,000 will be used to purchase a dump trailer and chipper. Another $72,000 will be spent on other fuels reduction equipment The rest of the funds will be used for the wildfire risk reduction work with the county and Talent.