Wasco County Commissioners gave their go-ahead to a group of 15 state and local agencies that will seek a five-year, two million dollar Community Wildfire Defense Grant from the Forest Service to develop a county-wide wildfire mitigation program and support risk reduction.  The grant would cover hiring a County Wildfire Coordinator, conducting fuels treatment, public engagement and education, and mapping development and maintenance.  Kristin Dodd of the Oregon Department of Forestry says the coordinator position has been identified as a need for some time.  The program would be modeled after Deschutes County’s nationally recognized Project Wildfire program.  No funding match is required from the County due to the fact it is considered a high-risk community with heightened socioeconomic vulnerability to wildfire.  The County would serve as the fiscal agent and manager of the grant.