Clearing the Way in Oregon: Tough Love for Our Forests
In Oregon, things are getting real. The U.S. Forest Service needed to do some serious brush clearing and controlled burns. But before they could get to work, they had to deal with a long-term homeless population in the forest.
Every state struggles with homeless issues. But some blue states let the problem spiral out of control. Here in Oregon, officials took action to protect the forest. And frankly, it’s about time.
California once neglected this kind of maintenance. The neglect set the stage for the wildfires that raged earlier this year. Oregon isn’t waiting around. They’re cleaning up the mess, ensuring taxpayer money goes toward proper forest care—not subsidizing illegal camping.
Look at how the Associated Press tells the tale. They write it like this:
US Forest Service starts clearing homeless camp in Oregon national forest
Dozens of homeless people who have been living in a national forest in central Oregon for years were being evicted Thursday by the U.S. Forest Service, as it closed the area for a wildfire prevention project that will involve removing smaller trees, clearing debris and setting controlled burns over thousands of acres.
The project has been on the books for years, and the decision to remove the encampment in the Deschutes National Forest comes two months after the Trump administration issued an executive order directing federal agencies to increase timber production and forest management projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk.
Deschutes National Forest spokesperson Kaitlyn Webb said in an email that the closure order was “directly tied to the forest restoration work.” Homeless advocates, meanwhile, seized on the timing on Thursday as U.S. Forest Service officers blocked the access road.
This isn’t about handing out free camping spots in our treasured public lands. It’s about protecting the forest for all Americans. And to be clear, these folks had no legal right to stay there indefinitely.
Ward Clark explained it best over at RedState:
Let’s get one thing straight: These people are not being “evicted.” “Evicted” implies that they had some legal right to be there in the first place. They are trespassing, they are breaking every environmental regulation in the Forest Service’s book regarding camping, and they are preventing legitimate use by taxpayers. Camping is legal in the National Forests, there is an allowable amount of time involved; most forests enforce a 14-day limit. Some of these people have been occupying this site for years.
This strong stance hits home. Our forests are public treasures meant for everyone to enjoy—not a dumping ground for those ignoring the rules. The Forest Service isn’t kicking out folks for kicks. They’re enforcing laws that keep our lands safe and well-managed.
In a time when blue state policies have often let problems fester, Oregon shows real grit by tackling the issue head-on. It’s a reminder: rule of law and proper management beat handouts every time.
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