The Oregon Department of Forestry is responsible for protecting public and private forestland from fire, including millions of acres on the "wildland-urban interface" where houses and other structures lie within the reach of wildfire. The West Oregon Fire Protection District provides that protection in Lincoln, Polk, and Benton Counties.
The Lincoln County portion of the West Oregon Protection District has been part of the Department of Forestry's protection responsibility for many decades. Forestland Classification determines which lands within the District boundary are protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Classified forestlands were assessed for fire protection to support that service.