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LogoDepartment Organization InformationOrganization Address Information Forest ServiceWillamette National Forest3106 Pierce Parkway Suite D Supervisor's Office Springfield, OR 97477 File Code: Date: 2720 October 13, 2020 Route To: Subject: Post-fire Access to Breitenbush Recreational Residences To: Special Use Permitees The fires this summer have impacted so much of our landscape and so many of our communities. I am sorry that you lost your summer home. I understand that this is a great loss for you, your family and your community. These homes have provided for long lasting family memories and places for your families to grow and experience this wonderful landscape. As much as I would like to let you back in to see what remains and to start on a path towards closure about what has just happened, I am not able to do so at this time. The risks on the ground in the summer home tract are too great. I care about your individual safety. We will not be allowing access into the summer homes until we can comprehensively address the risks later this winter and spring. The Fire Team flew extensively over the summer home tract and has described it as one big patch of fire-killed trees that will need extensive work before it is safe to enter. The fire moved through the area as a crown fire and/or a very intense ground fire, killing all trees in its path. Ninety five percent of the trees are a lost and all that is left of the structures are foundations, except for one cabin. All of the cabin sites have hazardous trees near them and the probability of those falling in the near future is great. There are numerous dead trees hung up in other dead trees that could come down at any time, as well as trees that are burned nearly through halfway up their bole. Some of those trees are between 100-200+ feet tall. Trees are still falling and are winter snows and storms bring down the hazardous trees and then send in professional sawyers or equipment to bring down the rest before allowing reentry by anyone, including firefighters and Forest Service employees. Many of you may be wondering about the Resort area. The private area on the Breitenbush Resort was largely missed by the main fire and has significantly fewer potential hazards than the summer homes. Because of this difference in fire severity and fewer hazards, as well as safe passage through largely unburned areas, reentry into the resort area will be sooner than the Summer Homes. While I wish we could allow everyone back at the same time, reentry is based on safety and the fire behavior and burn patterns did not act equally across the landscape. In lieu of physical entry to the area, the Fire Team has made available aerial photos and damage assessment products created by their GIS section. These products were put together to share information about specific lots to share information and to aid in your work with insurance companies. This work reflects a diligent effort to catalogue the damage sustained in the tract. These damage assessments will be shared with each of you electronically and will be formatted for easy printing. Caring Every Day in Every Way Printed on Recycled Paper