Edmond, Oklahoma – As development expands east of Interstate 35, city fire officials are urging the adoption of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The plan is intended to reduce wildfire risk for neighborhoods that now sit alongside unmanaged vegetation.

Why the plan matters

Oklahoma ranks fourth in the nation for total wildfire frequency and seventh for total acreage burned, according to Jesse Benne, Edmond’s chief of fire prevention. Nearly half of the city’s 93 square miles lie within the wildland‑urban interface, where homes meet dense brush and forested areas.

“So, all of the newer developments that’s happening east of I‑35 is moving into those areas,” Benne said. “We need a roadmap to protect those communities.”

Key components of the proposal

The draft plan calls for three primary actions:

• Removal of invasive tree species, especially eastern red cedars, which can fuel fast‑moving fires.
• Reduction of structural ignitability by encouraging fire‑resistant building materials and defensible‑space landscaping.
• Improved access for firefighters through the use of existing easements, such as electrical corridors, to reach previously inaccessible zones.

“There’s a lot of areas we’re still unable to access. If we could have access to areas like electrical easements, that would gain us access into some of these areas we previously didn’t have,” Benne explained.

Funding and collaboration

Officials note that a formal plan could make Edmond eligible for state and federal grants aimed at wildfire mitigation. The plan would be coordinated among local, municipal and state agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service.

“In order for it to be a viable plan, it has to recommend the removal of invasive tree species like eastern red cedars, reduce structural ignitability, and it has to be formulated between local, municipal and state agencies like the Forestry Service,” Benne said.

Next steps

The Edmond Planning Commission has already voted to recommend the plan to the city council. Fire officials stress the importance of acting now rather than waiting for a disaster.

“I think it’s now the time to start taking wildfire just as serious,” Benne said.

City council members are expected to consider the recommendation at their upcoming meeting. If approved, the plan would set a proactive course for protecting Edmond’s growing eastern neighborhoods while preserving the safety of its residents and first responders.

Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.