During the recent session the Oregon Legislature approved establishment of a new Oregon State Wildland Fire Extension Program.  It will be part of Oregon State University’s College of Forestry and OSU Extension’s Forestry and Natural Resources program.  OSU Extension forester Glenn Ahrens says the goal is to enable them to work with partners and communities to build wildfire resistance and resilience into rural landscapes and wildland urban interface areas, most notably keeping fires at a ground level so they are less severe, which requires large-scale fuels reduction.  Ahrens believes Wasco and Hood River counties are good candidates for this effort, adding they will be looking for prospective landscapes with willing partners for 10,000-acre-plus wildfire risk reduction efforts across public and private boundaries.