Community Recovery Coordinator Hired to Assist with Local Wildfire Relief

(Douglas County, OR.) The Douglas County Board of Commissioners, in response to recent devastating wildfires have hired Jenny Boyle, as the Douglas County Community Recovery Coordinator. Boyle, as a part of Douglas County’s fire response efforts, will be working directly with wildfire victims and their families impacted by the French Creek, Archie Creek and Thielsen wildfires. She will be, among other duties, mapping and tracking resources and connecting them to those directly affected by the local wildfires. Additionally, Boyle will be helping others find access to necessary resources. She started with Douglas County on Thursday, September 17, 2020 and has quickly immersed herself in the emergency response applications, programs and resources available. She is currently working with individuals, businesses and the County to connect valuable resources to those that need them. The three local wildfires (French Creek, Archie Creek and Thielsen) ignited shortly after the Labor Day holiday along the North Umpqua Highway East of Glide. Even with the remarkable fire suppression efforts of numerous responding fire agencies, contractors and volunteers, the high winds, steep terrain and dry conditions quickly fueled the fire and it spread through the area causing a tremendous amount devastation to local communities and homes along the river. Fire Officials and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reported that 109 homes were lost in the fires, but that, thankfully, there were no fire related fatalities and no one has been reported missing from the fires. As of today, only one of the fires is contained, while the other two are still actively burning. Boyle brings with her a wealth of experience in community service, and a background in helping to connect people to valuable resources. She retired from the Oregon Department of Human Services Roseburg office in 2015, where she worked as the Self Sufficiency Program Manager for over fifteen years. She spent her 25-year career working for the State of Oregon serving families in poverty. During her tenure, she collaborated with community and contracted partners to provide housing, emergency and safe shelter, nutrition education, transportation, clothing, medical, drug and alcohol, and mental health services, education and job training to residents. Coincidentally, when Boyle moved to Douglas County in 1996, her first position was as a Community Resource Coordinator. Since retiring, she keeps busy by working part time with the OSU Extension Services SNAP-Education Program, as a Nutrition Educator, and enjoys working directly with local elementary and middle school students in Douglas County. “Douglas County is incredibly fortunate that we had an individual in our community with expertise in resource management, and was ready to hit the ground running. We are very excited to have Jenny join our team, and provide this much needed service to not only the families that lost their homes to the destructive 2020 local wildfires, but also to work in conjunction with the amazing Glide community, Douglas County residents and local businesses that have stepped up to help those that have been adversely affected by the wildfires,” commented Commissioner Tim Freeman. The Douglas County Community Recovery Coordinator will be working directly with the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. If you are a wildfire victim and need resources, or you have resources available, or want to donate or volunteer, please contact Jenny Boyle at (541) 440-4338 or email her at jenny@co.douglas.or.us. There is a tremendous amount of work that needs to be accomplished in order to help our residents rebuild, rehome, revitalize and recover, so we ask that you please be patient and kind with one another and with our new Community Resource Coordinator.