This petition speaks from personal experience of our community in Deschutes County, OR. Forest fires pose sever danger to our health, life, and property. We have all witnessed or heard the terrifying roar of fire that had its origin in encampments of homeless people living in our forests. Such inhumane living conditions, including those of children and vulnerable citizens, provoke risks that we can no longer ignore. 

Over the past few years, we have seen too many fires ignited in these areas. The escalating situation reveals a twofold crisis: a rising homelessness problem and an escalating risk of catastrophic forest fires. Our county initiative so far has seemed insufficient, allowing these hazardous situations to persist. This has to change. We can no longer afford to wait for things to improve, we must put pressure on our elected officials to get results. 

We send out this petition to urge our county and state authorities to seek and implement viable, sustainable long-term solutions to address the forest fires hazard and to improve the living conditions of these homeless individuals. Regardless of how we may feel about the situation, standing back and doing nothing isn’t helping, we might as well work together. Though we do not have a definite solution outlined yet, this plea serves as the crucial first step towards a safer, healthier, more compassionate community.

Deschutes County has roughly 1000 unauthorized (homeless) campers living in the forest. These encampments have  been the sources of several dangerous forest fires putting our entire community in danger. These encampments include people who have varying needs that are stopping them from rising up out of homelessness, but these encampments are also are filled with dangerous people who are choosing to live for free, causing destruction, breaking laws, and bringing risk to everyone else in the community.  

Please sign this petition demanding action be taken to ensure the safety of all our citizens. Below is a list of elected representatives who need to hear from us, please take a moment to explain how this affects you and your families.

Together, we can protect our community, our lands, and our homeless population from danger. If we don’t, it’s only a matter of time before we experience a catastrophic disaster.

You can follow up to learn more and reach out on Instagram @BS_of_Bend or check out the Facebook group Operation Save La Pine - Ending The Criminal Encirclement Of Central Oregon

-Other resources include:

https://www.change.org/p/close-the-gate-at-phil-s-trail

@best_of_china_hat on IG

https://www.change.org/p/protect-central-oregon-s-forests-remove-homeless-campers-from-usfs-lands

eastsidevotes.org

Please sign and share this petition, as well as send letters to your local elected officials.

Email the following individuals:

Erik.Kropp@deschutes.org

Governor.Kotek@oregon.gov

-Deschutes County Commissioners

Patti Adair: Patti.Adair@deschutes.org

Toni DeBone: Tony.DeBone@deschutes.org

Phil Chang: Phil.Chang@deschutes.org

-City of Bend, City Council

Melanie Kebler: mkebler@bendoregon.gov

Megan Perkins: mperkins@bendoregon.gov

AnthonyBroadman:abroadman@bendoregon.gov

Barb Campbell: bcampbell@bendoregon.gov

Ariel Mendez: amendez@bendoregon.gov

Megan Norris: morris@bendoregon.gov

-La Pine City Council

info@lapineoregon.gov

-Redmond City Council 

Ed.fitch@redmondoregon.gov

Clifford.Evelyn@redmondoregon.gov

Shannon.Wedding@redmondoregon.gov

Cat.Zwicker@redmondoregon.gov

Kathryn.Osborne@redmondoregon.gov

Tobias.Colvin@redmondoregon.gov

-Sisters City Council 

citycouncil@ci.sisters.or.us

Thank you.