In Jackson County, residents prepare for future wildfire

In 2020, the Almeda Fire ripped through Jackson County, destroying homes and ecosystems. The “Think Out Loud” team traveled to Southern Oregon recently and talked to residents about how they’re thinking about fire in their communities now. Mountain View Estates, a manufactured home park in Talent, was destroyed by the Almeda Fire. Now, it’s a nationally recognized Firewise Neighborhood. Steve Thorpe lives there. Tucker Teutsch is the executive director of the Firebrand Resiliency Collective. It supports long-term natural disaster preparedness, recovery and resilience. Teutsch led us on a tour around Thorpe’s home, which is prepared to withstand ember attacks. Teutsch also took the team around his own property, which needs a lot more work to be prepared for wildfires. About four miles north of Talent, the team also spoke to Glenn Hill in Phoenix. He’s lived in the Rogue Valley for decades. Hill has triad asthma and the condition is affected by smoke. He told us more about living with both.