The 2020 Echo Mountain Complex Fire burned more than 2,500 acres and damaged or destroyed 368 structures in Lincoln County. It also revealed major gaps in communication and emergency preparedness for the county’s Latino and Indigenous Mesoamerican communities.
Many residents in these communities face language barriers. While some speak Spanish, others speak Mam, a Mayan language spoken by more than half a million people in Guatemala. Due to a lack of translated information during the fire, some families mistakenly evacuated to tsunami assembly areas, putting them at increased risk.
Local needs assessments and community input showed that face-to-face engagement with first responders and local agencies would help build trust and awareness about public safety, hazards and emergency services. In response, Oregon State University Extension Service in Lincoln County and the OSU Extension Forestry and Natural Resources Fire Program partnered to organize two public events — one in Newport and one in Lincoln City.
The primary goal was to support the social and environmental safety and wellness of Latino and Indigenous Mesoamerican residents across Lincoln County.
Each event focused on emergency preparedness, hazard awareness and public safety, with presentations delivered in Spanish and translated into Mam. To reduce barriers to participation, the events included dinner, children's activities, free parking and access to public transportation.
Topics included:
- All-hazards emergency preparedness and “go bags”
- Tsunami evacuation routes and wildfire evacuation differences
- Structural fire safety and response
- Roles of local law enforcement and fire agencies
- Local hazards and available services
Participants received customized tsunami evacuation maps based on where they live, work and attend school. Fire departments offered information on home safety assessments and smoke detector installation. Families also received materials in Spanish on how to sign up for Lincoln County emergency alerts.
Each session concluded with a question-and-answer discussion, allowing community members to share concerns and speak directly with local officials.
A total of 52 adults participated in the two events. For many families — especially those from the Mam-speaking community — these were their first in-person meetings with public safety agencies. Evaluation responses showed that most attendees had not previously been aware of wildfire risks along the Oregon Coast. Many shared that the events helped them understand the difference between wildfire and tsunami evacuation protocols.
The success of the events reflects a growing commitment to inclusive, community-centered emergency outreach.
Collaborators on the initiative included OSU Extension’s Aaron Groth, Beatriz Botello Salgado, Jennifer Pettit, Emily Blume, Felicia Olmeta-Schult and Wiley Thompson; Leslie Palotas with the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County; Alex Llumiquinga Pérez with the Olalla Center; and Maria Eliosa with Conexión Fénix.
Collaborators also included Robert Murphy with the Newport Fire Department; Del Lockwood with the City of Newport; Cassidy Boyle with Lincoln City; Cody Heidt with North Lincoln Fire & Rescue; Curtis Landers, Lincoln County sheriff; Dave Broderick, Lincoln City chief of police; and Jason Malloy, Newport chief of police.
