OWEB Funding for Prescribed and Cultural Burns
Projects that use prescribed and cultural fire to protect or restore fish and wildlife habitat or watershed function are eligible for OWEB funds under some grant offerings. For example, a
Restoration grant could fund burn implementation, an
Engagement grant could fund community outreach around prescribed fire, or a
Technical Assistance grant could support the development of a burn plan. Prescribed and cultural burns help reduce hazardous fuels and reintroduce periodic fire to fire-adapted landscapes, helping to lower the risk of high-intensity wildfires and promote climate resiliency. Project applications should include information on who will lead burn planning and implementation, timelines for the burn, and desired ecological outcomes.
Once funded, grantees conducting prescribed and cultural burns should follow all local guidance and regulations for air quality and burn management, including the best practices outlined in
ODF’s Certified Burn Manager program. When a fire takes place on ODF-protected land, OWEB encourages grantees to use a Certified Burn Manager and enroll in the
Prescribed Fire Liability Program. This provides $1,000,000 per incident for claims for damages, as well as suppression costs for burns that meet all eligibility requirements. This fund is available to Certified Burn Managers, ODF, Forest-Protective Associations, Rangeland Protection Associations, and Cultural Fire Practitioners. ODF-protected lands can be found
here.