The Oregon Department of Forestry recently provided counties with their wildfire assessment rates on forestland for the upcoming year. These rates reflect rising firefighting costs, a restructured wildfire funding system approved by the 2007 Legislature - including a surcharge on improved lots, and payback of a one-time loan to cover deficits incurred in fighting 14 large fires over the past three years. Forest landowners and owners of one or more improved lots in forest protection districts will see these rates reflected on property tax statements they receive this fall.