The prescribed fire and fuels treatment projects on the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex (WVNWRC) were completed for 2004 this past week. During this fiscal year twenty-two burns were conducted, treating 769 acres of hazardous fuels. Many of the treated acres will also benefit threatened and endangered species, and wintering habitat for Canada geese. Prescribed fire units were evenly distributed on over the three refuges in the valley, with fire being used for the first time at Ankeny NWR since 1994. A large resource pool of personnel and equipment was required since many of the units burned this year were in wildland urban interface areas within two miles of I-5 and Highways 99 and 22. Critical operational and logistical support were provided by numerous local, State and Federal agencies with excellent training opportunities given to all the cooperators as a part of the interagency burning program that has been established at the WVNWRC .

An additional 600 acres of hazardous fuels were treated mechanically through either thinning contracts or Service staff fuel break mowing projects.

This year, the WVNWRC also provided $12,500 in Rural Fire Assistance grants to four local fire districts for suppression protection and assistance with the refuge prescribed fire program. Funds were utilized to purchase fire vehicle equipment and personal protective equipment.