BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Commissioners say dangerous fires have become increasingly common on county-owned land, caused by some homeless encampments. Specifically, they point to recent fires in the Juniper Ridge area, north of Bend, that spread quickly in thick brush. 

Commissioners voted Wednesday to adopt a new policy outlining a 72-hour eviction notice and guidelines for removing and storing personal property from an area deemed “unsafe.” Commissioner Patti Adair says it’s a way to protect everyone, "We really need to be mindful that there’s over 200,000 people that live in Deschutes County and, when we’re having those fires - and we were having a lot of fires last year - it’s great that we’ve got this document that will help with what we can do and how we handle it; and notifying and pictures."

Commissioner Phil Chang says it’s necessary but should only be used in extreme cases, "This is intended to deal with specific encampments that are presenting an extreme public safety risk. As opposed to a tool or a policy to enable us to do more wide-scale clearing activities in certain areas."

Commissioner Tony DeBone points out the county already has a policy banning long-term camping on county parcels, "We have a policy that says, you know, ‘if it’s a dangerous encampment.’ But really, the policy was ‘no camping,’ we’ve got a little disconnect, maybe. Which we need to work through as a society and a community right now."

County staff noted this policy won’t be used for campers east of Redmond, prior to a planned land exchange. That area will be cleared using the new Encampment Resolution pilot project.

Also Wednesday, Commissioners approved sending $500,000 in federal ARPA funds to the city of Sisters for an affordable housing project. And, they pulled back plans to expand the courthouse to four stories, reversing a previous decision and saying three stories are more feasible and affordable. 

 

File photo