Selma, Ore. — The Redwood Highway fire that burned in Selma over the weekend is now 100% contained. The fire broke out Friday and burned 54 acres and three homes. The fight is proving to be costly for the Oregon Department of Forestry.
The Public Information Officer for ODF’s Southwest District, Melissa Cano, said so far this season they’ve spent just less than $1 million of wildfires. The Redwood Highway Fire cost $600,000.
“That includes a number of things everything from the aircraft as well as crews on the ground, pilots, resources from contract crews, dozers, etc.,” she said.
Cano said the use of air tankers is the the most expensive. Each time a small single seat plane takes off it rings in at $9,000. ODF had multiple helicopters and tankers working to suppress the fire the Friday it sparked. Cano said they spent $91,000 on aircraft the first day.
Every ODF firefighter with boots on the ground is earning about $735 per shift. Crews that are contracted out cost even more. But Cano said it’s worth it to protect homes, land, and lives.
“It comes down to when your neighborhood is burning or an area near your neighborhood, do you want us to send all the resources to stop it quickly, or skimp out on what we send?,” she said.
The Dutchy Way Fire that burned just 3/4 of an acre in Josephine County on August 5 cost $18,000. Last year’s Stouts fire cost ODF more than $37 million to suppress.
This season ODF has a firefighting fund of $6 million. If they need more money they have other funds to dip into, including the Large Fire Fund. But if costs exceed that they’ll take money from the general fund, and taxpayers will foot the bill.
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