Jacksonville Review – April 2026
JACKSONVILLE was recently named the recipient of the 2026 National Wildfire Mitigation Award. This is the highest national honor one can receive for outstanding work and significant program impact in wildfire preparedness and mitigation. Established in 2014, the Wildfire Mitigation Awards are jointly sponsored by the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the USDA Forest Service. Since the award’s inception, this is the first time it has come to Southern Oregon.
The award recognizes groups, organizations, or communities that demonstrate leadership, innovation, and measurable impact in reducing wildfire risk. Jacksonville’s selection not only reflects the effectiveness of its mitigation initiatives but also the strong partnerships that have formed among all stakeholders committed to preserving and protecting their community.
In her letter of nomination, Jacksonville City Councilor Andrea Thompson cites fuel reduction efforts across the city on both public and private lands and important partnerships with local agencies including Jacksonville Fire, Lomakatsi Restoration Project, Grayback Forestry, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative (SOFRC), and the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM).
The City of Jacksonville’s updating of building codes with an eye to improved fire safety standards, their changes in tree removal policy, and their educational efforts through Firewise model gardens were all noted. Similarly, the City’s initiation of Blackberry Removal grants to assist property owners, regardless of their property size, to recoup some of the expense of removing the hazard of blackberries.
Jacksonville Fire Department in collaboration with Jacksonville Firewise communities, set up semiannual green waste drop days as well as a Neighborhood Green Waste Dumpster Program. At the same time, City leaders created a Citizens Fire Safety Guide to accompany the Fire Department’s Evacuation maps. Working together with an “All Hands On Board” approach, City staff, agency partners, volunteers, and citizens continue to take meaningful steps to protect lives, property, and the natural environment that defines the Community. While Jacksonville is a small city, the collective efforts of its residents, elected leaders, city staff, and volunteers have earned a national spotlight in fuel mitigation efforts.