Post-Fire Recovery
Wildfire has always been part of the Pacific Northwest landscape, but the scale and severity of recent fire seasons have pushed communities and ecosystems into uncharted territory. Since 2020, millions of acres across Oregon and Washington have burned in fires that destroyed homes, contaminated water supplies, and fundamentally altered forest ecosystems. For the landowners and communities left behind, the work of recovery is just beginning.
Sustainable Northwest has been on the ground in fire-affected communities since the first embers cooled. Our post-fire recovery program provides direct technical assistance to family forest owners navigating the complex decisions that follow a wildfire: when to salvage harvest, how to control erosion, what to replant, and how to pay for it all. We help landowners access federal and state cost-share programs, connect with professional foresters, and develop long-term management plans that incorporate fire resilience.
But recovery is about more than trees. Wildfire disrupts local economies, displaces workers, and strains the social fabric of rural communities. Sustainable Northwest works with community leaders, local governments, and economic development organizations to identify opportunities for recovery that strengthen rather than diminish the economic base of fire-affected areas. That includes supporting local wood products businesses that can process salvage timber, advocating for workforce training programs in forest restoration, and connecting communities with funding for infrastructure repair.
One of the most important lessons we have learned is that recovery takes time, patience, and sustained commitment. The first year after a fire is critical for stabilizing soil and removing hazard trees, but the real work of restoring a healthy forest unfolds over decades. Sustainable Northwest is committed to walking alongside landowners and communities for the long haul, providing the tools and support they need to rebuild on their own terms.
If you are a landowner affected by wildfire and need assistance, please reach out to our forests team. We are here to help.