Wildfires are part of Oregon’s landscape, especially where forests meet towns and rural neighborhoods.
With hotter, drier conditions affecting many parts of the state, homeowners who take a few key steps can dramatically reduce their property’s risk and improve community resilience. The focus is on defensible space, home hardening, and neighborhood coordination.
Create defensible space
– Establish cleared zones immediately surrounding your home by removing dead vegetation, dry leaves, and fallen branches. Prioritize the area closest to structures.
– Maintain separation between shrubs and trees, and prune tree canopies so branches don’t touch roofs or other trees. Keep grass mowed and irrigated where feasible.
– Store firewood and other combustibles well away from the house and outbuildings.
Harden your home against embers
– Roofs, eaves, and vents are common points of ignition from windblown embers. Replace or cover vents with ember-resistant mesh and consider roof materials rated for fire resistance.
– Upgrade to dual-pane windows and install noncombustible shutters or tempered glass where practical.
Embers can start fires at weak points in exterior walls—seal gaps and install ignition-resistant siding if possible.
– Use noncombustible decking materials or keep combustible decks clear of debris and furniture made of fire-prone materials.
Landscape smartly
– Choose lower-flammability plants near the house: succulents, well-spaced shrubs, and some deciduous species can reduce flame spread compared with dense, resinous evergreens.
– Design irrigation so that plants closest to structures remain hydrated during dry spells. Group plants by fuel type and maintain fuel breaks like gravel paths or mowed lawns where appropriate.
– Remove ladder fuels—vegetation that allows fire to climb from the ground into the canopy—by pruning lower branches and reducing understory density.
Plan for people and pets
– Develop and practice an evacuation plan with multiple routes. Know local evacuation zones and how alerts are issued in your county.
– Keep an emergency kit with important documents, medications, chargers, pet supplies, and a basic first-aid kit in a ready-to-go location. Store digital copies of insurance policies and home inventory in the cloud.
– Prepare a “go bag” for each household member and a secure cage, leash, and carrier for pets.
Work with neighbors and local programs
– Neighborhood coordination multiplies effectiveness. Organize or join community chipping days, fuel-reduction projects, and Firewise or Fire Adapted Community initiatives.
– Contact your local fire district or the state forestry office to learn about prescribed burn schedules, defensible-space guidelines, and potential cost-share programs for fuels reduction.
– Subscribe to local emergency alert systems and encourage neighbors to do the same.
Review insurance and documentation
– Regularly review homeowner insurance to understand coverage limits and policy requirements related to wildfire. Keep an updated inventory of valuables with photos or video.
– Document home-hardening improvements and maintenance work; this can be useful for insurance claims or eligibility for mitigation incentives.
Simple actions taken now can make a big difference later. By combining defensible space, home hardening, sensible landscaping, and community coordination, Oregon homeowners can reduce risk and improve safety for families and first responders. For practical checklists and local guidance, contact your local fire agency or forestry office and enroll in community resilience programs offered in many areas.