Tribal Fire Management

Cow Creek Tribal Fire Management was established on February 22, 2023, by Cow Creek Tribal Board of Directors Resolution #2023-05.  Over the next two years, the department took shape as Tribal staff applied for and received grant money, recruited and hired leadership positions, and remodeled an existing Tribal property to house the new department.  Over the next two years, a Wildfire Mitigation Specialist and Fire Chief were hired, and in 2024 the organization hired an Emergency Manager, helping to prepare the Tribe for all hazards.  In early 2025, Fire Management rounded out the organization, onboarding a Wildfire Operations Specialist, Engine Boss, and several Wildland Firefighters.

Over the spring and summer of 2025, Fire Management personnel assisted local agencies by patrolling and responding to fires on and near Tribally owned lands, performed fuels mitigation work around Tribal members’ homes, conducted a cultural prescribed burn on Tribal land, and participated in Tribal community events.

In the coming years, Tribal Fire Management will continue to grow and protect the Cow Creek Tribal community from wildfire and other disasters.

For any fire or emergency management-related questions or issues, please reach out to us at firemanagement@cowcreek-nsn.gov.
If this is an emergency, please call 911.
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Mission

Cow Creek Tribal Fire Management protects the members and interests of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians by practicing traditional and modern techniques for managing wildfire risk and responding to the threat of wildfire.  We are committed to meeting the needs of the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribe by protecting natural and cultural resources, while building pathways for Tribal members’ success and self-reliance.

Vision

To protect future generations of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Tribal lands, resources, and assets from the risk of catastrophic wildfire and other hazards, using traditional wisdom and modern fire management practices.

Core Principles and Values

Tribal Fire Management staff embrace the following principles and values:

  1. Sovereignty
  2. Safety
  3. Service