The Clatsop County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan adequately describes the causes and characteristics of wildfires, as well as the County and Citys history of wildfire events. Cannon Beach has no recorded history of wildfire, and County wildfires are mostly related to debris bums. Clatsop (CWPP) will become part of the Clatsop County Hazard Mitigation Plan when it is completed. Cannon Beach is participating in the County's CWPP planning process as well.
Clatsop County estimates a 'high' probability that wildfires will occur in the future. Most wildfires can be linked to human carelessness. This rating is true for Cannon Beach as well.
Clatsop County estimates a 'moderate' vulnerability to wildfire events; meaning 1-10% of the population of regional assets is likely to be affected by a major event. Wildfires are most likely to occur in wild land-urban interface areas, and Cannon Beach is considered to be an 'interface community.' Cannon Beach is particularly vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires. The area is bounded on the east by commercial forestland, and on the north and south by forested state parks (Ecola State Park & Oswald West State Park). Additionally, there are numerous wooded areas throughout the community, making the spread of fire from one area of the City to another highly likely. The natural mitigation factor is the maritime climate, which reduces the rate at which vegetation dries during the summer months. Potential community impacts are adequately described in Clatsop County's Wildfire Hazard Annex.