Phoenix, Oregon city manager shares insights on rebuilding after a wildfire

By Tess Novotny,

Erin O'Toole

Published January 24, 2022 at 3:24 PM MST

In this photo taken by a drone, homes leveled by the Almeda Fire line the Bear Lake Estates in Phoenix, Oregon, on Sept. 15, 2020.

In September 2020, the Almeda fire destroyed nearly 2,600 homes in southern Oregon and killed three people. Like Colorado’s Marshall Fire, it was the most destructive in state history, driven by unusually fast winds through the towns of Phoenix and Talent.

We speak with Phoenix, Oregon city manager Eric Swanson to hear how his city’s fire experience could inform recovery efforts in Louisville and Superior.

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KUNC's Colorado Edition Wildfires

Tess Novotny

As a producer for Colorado Edition, I pitch segment ideas, pre-interview guests, craft scripts and cut audio. I also write tweets, build web posts and occasionally host.

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Erin O'Toole

As host of KUNC's Colorado Edition, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. And because life is best when it's a balance of work and play, I love finding stories that highlight culture, music, the outdoors, and anything that makes Colorado such a great place to live.

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