Sisters Community Takes Action to Reduce Wildfire Risk

Tollgate subdivision secures $299,200 grant to treat 88 acres of common area and mitigate fire danger.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:00am

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted greens, grays, and blues, depicting a dense, fog-shrouded forest with towering pines and a glimpse of a distant mountain range, conveying the overwhelming, sublime scale of the natural world.A community-driven effort to mitigate wildfire risk in Sisters Country's outlying neighborhoods aims to protect homes and forests from the growing threat of devastating blazes.Sisters Today

Concerned resident Christina Maier spearheaded an effort to secure grant funding to treat 88 acres of common area in the Tollgate subdivision near Sisters, Oregon. The work, which includes thinning tree stands, limbing trees, and clearing brush, is part of a coordinated wildfire mitigation program across several local communities to reduce the risk of devastating blazes like the Flat Fire that destroyed homes in 2024.

Why it matters

The Flat Fire highlighted the vulnerability of outlying communities in Sisters Country to the growing threat of wildfires. By taking proactive steps to manage forest fuels and create defensible space, local residents are working to protect their homes and neighborhoods from potential catastrophic damage.

The details

The grant-funded work in Tollgate is based on a mandated forest management plan conducted by Tamarack Wildfire Consulting. Axe Contracting completed the first phase of the project, encompassing 39 acres, on April 3. The common areas extend 20 to 30 feet from Tollgate's roads, and Firewise volunteers had already been working to remove lighter brush and ground fuels. The larger work logged out trees up to 12 inches in diameter, limbed trees up six feet, and removed brush. The ponderosa pine logs were donated to a local church's firewood ministry, while chipped slash was delivered to area ranches and farms.

  • The Flat Fire destroyed five homes and numerous outbuildings in the summer of 2024.
  • In January 2026, Oregon Department of Forestry confirmed that Tollgate would receive $299,200 in grant funding.
  • The first phase of the project, encompassing 39 acres, was completed on April 3, 2026.
  • Additional work is expected to resume in December 2026.

The players

Christina Maier

A Tollgate resident who spearheaded the effort to secure grant funding and coordinate the wildfire mitigation project.

Tamarack Wildfire Consulting

The firm that conducted the mandated forest management plan for the Tollgate community.

Axe Contracting

The company that completed the first phase of the fuel treatment work in Tollgate.

Highland Baptist Church

The church that received donated ponderosa logs from the project to provide firewood to families in need.

Deschutes Land Trust

The organization that received juniper logs from the project for a stream restoration effort at the Willow Creek Preserve.

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What they’re saying

“I've been looking for several years, and was intimidated by the information you had to provide, and the legwork you needed to do beforehand.”

— Christina Maier, Tollgate resident

“Sleeping at night. Being able to live here. I think the more you know, the more concerned you are.”

— Christina Maier, Tollgate resident

What’s next

Additional work on the remaining 49 acres in Tollgate is expected to resume in December 2026 after the winter season.

The takeaway

The coordinated wildfire mitigation efforts across multiple communities in Sisters Country demonstrate the power of grassroots action and community-driven solutions to address the growing threat of wildfires. By securing grant funding and implementing science-based forest management practices, local residents are taking proactive steps to protect their homes and neighborhoods.