Timber company, Weyerhaeuser has launched the fifth year of its Fighting Fires Together campaign in Oregon, bringing together grant funding, wildfire response partnerships and mental health resources to support rural fire districts and wildland firefighters.
The Fighting Fires Together program is designed to strengthen wildfire preparedness and community resilience in rural parts of the state, where emergency services can face limited resources during periods of heightened fire risk, and includes:
“Wildfire response isn’t just a seasonal concern — it’s a year-round commitment that requires collaboration,” said Shane Conway, Vice President of Western Timberlands for Weyerhaeuser. “Working closely with our rural communities and firefighters is essential to keeping Oregon’s forests and communities safe from wildfire.”
The grants will help rural fire protection districts buy equipment and expand training to support faster and safer emergency responses. The funding follows Weyerhaeuser’s 38-acre land donation to the Row River Rural Fire Protection District in 2025, which will be used for a new emergency substation in rural Lane County.
“In rural communities, we’re often the first responders on the scene,” said Kathleen Istudor, Executive Director at Row River Valley Community Partnership. “Support from Weyerhaeuser helps us strengthen our response and better protect our firefighters and the people who live here in the Dorena, Culp Creek, and Disston areas. It’s an investment in our community that makes a real difference when it matters most.”
Weyerhaeuser said it continues to work with the Oregon Department of Forestry and local agencies on wildfire prevention and response, including operational support, aerial coordination and suppression activity on company forestlands and nearby public and private land.
The company’s investment in Lane Community College will support hands-on learning in fuels reduction, wildland firefighting tools and fire behaviour assessment.
Rick Glover, Wildland Fire Management Program Coordinator, said: “This investment will help students safely gain real-world skills used in prescribed burns and wildland firefighting. It’s a critical investment that will make our community safer and open new workforce opportunities for students,”
The Fighting Fires Together campaign also provides online resources from Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, including educational articles, videos, peer support information and access to behavioral health providers trained to support wildland firefighters and their families. Weyerhaeuser said the resources are intended to address risks including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and suicide among wildland firefighters.
