Smoky skies on July 26, 2018.

Concerned citizens brainstorm solutions to future fires

Medford, Ore — A group of concerned citizens, fed up with the smoke, met to go over potential solutions to the area’s devastating wildfires.

Representing the logging, tourism, real estate and other industries, the group discussed issues the smoke brings.

This was a follow up to a meeting with representative Greg Walden in March.

Ideas included relaxing regulations on timber harvest, changing management policies and more aggressive fire suppression

“You have folks who are seriously concerned about wildfire smoke in this valley, the impacts on the economy, the impacts on the environment and really the future of this valley and they want to see solutions,” said Nick Smith with Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities.

The citizen group plans to take their ideas to local and federal lawmakers.

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Matt Jordan is the Chief Meteorologist for KOBI-TV NBC5. Matt joined the NBC5 weather team in 2014 after a year as a reporter and anchor in Alexandria, Louisiana. His experience with the severe weather of the Deep South and a love of the Pacific Northwest led him to pursue a certification with Mississippi State University as a Broadcast Meteorologist. You can find Matt working in the evenings of NBC5 News at 5, 6 and 11 as well as online. Matt also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. In addition to being passionate about news and weather, Matt is a BIG Oregon Ducks fan. When not rooting for the Ducks or tracking down the next storm over the Pacific, Matt can be found outdoors in the Oregon wilderness with his wife, his daughter and their dogs Stanley and Gordi.
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