Wildfire Resources

As Oregonians across the state continue to be impacted by devastating wildfires, the Oregon Wine Council is committed to ensuring all of Oregon’s wine growers and producers have access to the information and resources they need. 

The top priority of the industry remains the safety of all Oregonians. As we begin to transition into recovery and receive inquiries about ongoing operations, air quality or smoke exposed grapes, please keep in mind that you should only speak on behalf of your business, not on behalf of the industry as a whole. If you do speak to media about the wildfires and the impact on your business, we have provided the following talking points below.

Industry Talking Points on Wildfires

  • As many of the fires across Oregon continue to burn and threaten communities, the top priority of the wine industry – and all Oregonians – is the safety of our neighbors and the communities we call home.

  • As we continue to evaluate the impact of the fires on Oregon’s many wine regions, we know that many members of our industry have lost their homes and some have lost their businesses or a significant amount of their crop. Our hearts go out to those who have been personally impacted by this crisis.

  • Wineries and vineyards continue to play important roles in their communities, providing emergency support, donations and other resources for impacted community members across the state.

  • We know these devastating wildfires will have a significant impact on farm crops throughout the west coast, including vineyards and the wine industry.

  • Unfortunately, wildfires and the related smoke exposure are not new challenges facing Oregon’s winegrowers.
    It is much too early to predict the impacts on the 2020 vintage. Climate, proximity, varietal, grape growth state and length of exposure are factors to consider. The latest research shows late stage smoke, older than 24 hours, has little impact on grapes. Air quality, which is usually late-stage smoke from remote fires, does not correlate to impacts on grapes.

  • While it is still too early to predict the impact of the fires on the 2020 vintage, winemakers are currently testing grapes using micro-fermentations to determine smoke exposure. There is currently a backlog of laboratory testing which is slowing harvest for many wineries.  OWC has been working to locate additional laboratory testing resources.

  • Winemakers are able to utilize scientifically proven procedures to mitigate the effects of smoke exposed grapes at the grape and juice handling state and by minimizing fermentation time on grape skins.
    The start of the harvest for 2020 was at least two weeks earlier than normal for some regions and varieties.

  • We are deeply saddened by the friends, neighbors and winery colleagues who have been impacted by the fires and those who have experienced losses, and we will continue to support those who have been most deeply impacted in any way that we can. It is heartening to see our wine community come together to help one another and we appreciate the brave firefighters and first responders. Several organizations are raising funds to support displaced winery and vineyard workers and support local winegrowing communities, such as the one at Naumes Suncrest Winery. For more information on how to donate, please see below.

Where to Donate

Naumes Suncrest Winery
At least 28 Naumes employees have lost their homes in the Alameda Fire in Phoenix and Talent. Naumes has set up an Emergency Relief Fund at U.S. Bank to assist those employees and their families and has already contributed $35,000. If you would like to make a donation, checks can be made out to Naumes Emergency Relief Fund and mailed to Naumes, Inc., P.O. Box 996 Medford, OR 97501 or donations can be made on Venmo to the Naumes Disaster Emergency Fund (@NaumesDisaster-EmergencyFund). 

Naumes has also set up a disaster emergency relief center at their main office at 2 W Barnett St., Medford, OR 97501. They are accepting donations of new bedding, clothing, cooking utensils, toys, etc., and are welcoming anyone in the community affected by the fires to come get what they need. 

Oregon Red Cross

Northwest Red Cross (serves Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Lincoln, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington and Yamhill counties)

Southwest Red Cross (serves Benton, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lake and Linn counties)

Oregon Food Bank Network

Actions to Consider

Given the backlog of testing capabilities nationally, growers may wish to consider the sampling protocol noted below and freezing samples. Some growers are taking representative samples of 30 to 40 clusters per block per variety right before harvest and freezing the grapes in ziplock bags. Analysis is required for crop insurance payments (if you are already signed up) and it may be wise to have these samples available should grape quality come into question. It’s a relatively easy step to provide a bit more peace of mind during these challenging times.

OWC is working with the Wine Institute in CA and others to explore the possibilities of an extension of USDA FSA’s Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program, or WHIP program, which was extended in 2019 and very helpful to the wine industry. We have already had discussions with FSA Acting Executive Director and are strategizing on opportunities for a 2020 extension. Should a legislative vehicle come available we will be reaching out to membership to assist in advocacy efforts. Currently the only USDA program which is helpful is for those growers currently enrolled with Crop Insurance.

Winery/Tasting Room Closures

As the wildfire and air quality situation evolves, OWC encourages industry members to update their open status using their voicemail, website, social media, Google listing and with individual outreach to guests with upcoming reservations. As an industry, please encourage all visitors to reach out to wineries directly for their open status. 

Employee Safety - Oregon OSHA Recommendations for Outdoor Workers

On Friday, Sept. 11, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (Oregon OSHA) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released recommendations for employers to protect workers during the current wildfire event. 

These recommendations cited the increasingly dense and unhealthy air quality conditions across the state and urged employers to stop or delay outdoor work activity where possible and take other reasonable steps to protect workers when air quality reached the ‘unhealthy’ zone, or worse.

Oregon OSHA and OHA’s recommendations included:

  • Close outdoor work activity when air quality in an area becomes “unhealthy,” or reaches an Air Quality Index of at least 151.

  • Allow workers with underlying health conditions to stay home.

  • Re-arrange work schedules, hours and tasks in a way that enables workers to get relief from smoky outdoor air.

  • Provide N95 masks, where and when appropriate, and informing workers of their proper use and care. This Oregon OSHA video walks employers and workers through those procedures. Information about where to acquire N95 masks is below.

Specific outdoor activities outlined in the state’s recommendations include farming harvests, construction and other outdoor activities that require heavy and prolonged exertion, due to the possibility that higher exertion increases pollutant exposure and adverse health effects. Face masks, face shields and face coverings used for COVID-19 protection are not sufficient protection from wildfire smoke.

While Oregon OSHA does not have the authority to require employers to stop all outdoor work, the agency is strongly recommending that employers take the guidelines seriously.

Employers also are encouraged to check the state’s Air Quality Index (AQI) Map and air quality ratings at the beginning of a shift and every hour into the shift to ensure workers are not working in “unhealthy” or worse conditions, as well as monitor buildings’ ventilation systems and indoor air quality. 

Officials are also asking employers to be mindful of workers whose families are in areas that have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the devastating wildfires. 

KN95 Masks

Oregon OSHA and OHA recommend that outdoor workers utilize KN95 masks for smoke protection. While cloth masks are not sufficient protection from wildfire smoke, KN95 masks filter 95% of airborne particles and are considered more effective for wildfire smoke protection.

Governor Brown has committed to working with the National Guard to provide 1000,000 KN95 masks for agricultural workers affected by wildfires. Masks will be distributed through each county’s OSU Extension Office, all of which have received a distribution of masks of various quantities. If you are interested in acquiring KN95 masks for your workers, please reach out to your nearest OSU Extension Service Office to confirm the time and location of mask distribution. KN95 masks are also being distributed via community partners in each county.

Drop sites will receive a second shipment of masks starting Monday, Sept. 21. ODA is encouraging those in need of masks to call their offices ahead of time to ensure availability. The coast and other offices not listed on the original list of distribution sites will have masks by appointment only. Distribution sites will also have education materials on proper mask fitting, hand washing and other information for employers to collect and hand out to employees.

A full list of OSU Extension Office Distribution Sites and Community Partner Distribution Sites can be found here.

CAL OSHA has developed the following overview document on N95 mask usage.

Air Quality Tracking

Winegrape and Smoke Exposure Resources

Crop Insurance and Federal Assistance

General Oregon Wildfire Resources

Travel Alerts

Lab Sampling - OSU Request for Smoke Affected Grapes and Wine from 2020

An aspect of the proposed grape smoke affected proposal, OSU plans on using historical atmospheric data to help create risk models for smoke effects in the vineyard. Should OSU receive the funding for the grant they would like to incorporate the 2020 harvest into this atmospheric modeling. To do these, they would like to collect any grape and/or wine samples that may have been smoke impacted.

These samples will be stored until a time when OSU can analyze them in the future, this is not an alternative to having your samples analyzed by commercial labs. Results would not be available for months to years.

If you would like to send samples for this future work, please see the below information on where to ship samples and the information needed for the samples.

You can send either grape clusters or wine (or both)

  • Please submit unblended wine with no oak/wood contact.

  • Only 1 sample per vineyard for each variety, please.

  • Grapes – 1-2kg

  • Grapes should be frozen and shipped frozen in Styrofoam when possible

  • Wine – 375mL

  • Wines should be well sealed with little to no headspace

  • For customs forms, contents should be listed as research samples (not for consumption or sale)

OSU would need the following for each sample:

  • GPS coordinates for grape origin

  • Grape harvest date

Please also include as much of the following information as possible:

  • Grape variety

  • Rootstock

  • Clone

  • Vine age

  • Type of trellising

For wines, please include:

  • Yeast and/or MLF used for fermentation

  • Fermentation temperature

  • Skin contact time and pressing details such as inclusion of press fraction

Please contact OSU in advance that you are sending samples

Elizabeth.tomasino@oregonstate.edu
Aoberholster@ucdavis.edu 

Shipping for samples from Oregon and Washington

Oregon State University
Attn: Elizabeth Tomasino
100 Wiegand Hall
3501 SW Campus Way
Corvallis, OR 97331
For those located near OSU, pick-up may be available, please contact OSU first.
For those located near WSU-tri cities, pick-up may also be available, please contact OSU first.