Reducing Fire Hazard

Click to play introductory video

Wildfires occur every year in Oregon. Although you can't eliminate every threat of wildfire, you can take steps to make sure your home and forestland survives wildfire in the best condition possible.

Do you have an evacuation plan?
Does your home utilize fire resistant materials?
Have you adequately assessed the fire risk around your home and forestland to help prepare for a forest fire?
Have you done any fuel reduction around your home & property?

For more information, please conact:
Emily Jane Davis, Oregon State University Fire Program Director

FIRE SAFETY RESOURCES TO GET YOU STARTED:

OSU Extension Service Publications
Oregon State University Extension has several practical publications on wildfire. You can get these publications in hard copy from your local OSU Extension office, or online at Extension and Experiment Station Communications. Below is a selection of available publications.

-Fire-Resistant Plants for Home Landscapes. This publication provides a diverse list of plants that are both fire resistant and attractive. Plants are listed by categories: ground cover, perrenials, shrubs, and trees.

-Reducing Fire Risk on Your Forest Property. By following the guidelines in this publication you can reduce a fire's severity so that most trees survive and firefighters are better able to attack and extinguish the blaze.

-Keeping Your Home and Property Safe from Wildfire: A Defensible Space and Fuel Reduction Guide for Homeowners and Landowners. This publication provides help for homeowners who want to reduce the wildfire risk around their homes or on their forest property by creating defensible space.

-The Home Ignition Zone: Protecting Your Property from Wildfire. This publication provides help for homeowners who want to reduce the wildfire risk around their homes or on their forest property by creating defensible space.

OSU Extension Fire Program
Oregon State University also has an Extension Fire Program which provides fire preparedness and mitigation, prescribed fire, smoke and post-fire resources for home and landowners. The Extension Fire Program also offers free webinars covering fire and forestry topics. For more information about Oregon State University Extension Fire Program, contact Carrie Berger at [email protected].

National Fire Protection Association
The National Fire Protection Association has a program called Firewise USA. This program provides resources to the public regarding wildfire preparedness. The Oregon Department of Forestry created a summary of the program and how the national program is implemented on a local level. There is also a Firewise Program that is unique to Oregon.

Oregon Forest Protective Associations
Douglas Forest Protective Association
Coos Forest Protective Association
Walker Range Forest Protective Association

Extension CMS Topics:

Wildfire

Publications

OSU Emergency Preparedness Monthly Topic - Wildfire Information put out by Oregon State University on Wildfire preparedness.
Forest Fact Sheets: Fire in Oregon's Forests One of a series from the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. A one page summary of fire and forest management.
Fire Evacuation Planning Guide Plan, Prep, Go! This is the Deschutes County evacuation guide proivded by ProjectWidfire.org
Attic and Crawl Space Vents Wildfire Research Fact Sheet
Roofing Materials: Roofs are a highly vulnerable part of a home during wildfires Wildfire Research Fact Sheet
Decks Wildfire Research Fact Sheet
Coatings Wildfire Research Fact Sheet
Fencing Wildfire Research Fact Sheet

Presentations

Protecting Your Home & Forest from Wildfire This Adobe Presenter presentation from Steve Fitzgerld reviews the important actions to consider to make your home and forest more fire resilient

Videos

Reducing Fire Hazard How to reduce fire hazard.
Forest Fact Break: Fire A quick animation that explains the role of forest management and fire. Created by the Oregon Forest Resources Institute
World of Wildland Fire This website provides short videos on topics such as Introduction to Combustion, Introduction to Fire Behavior, and Introduction to Fuels. Check out the website to learn more!
How to make your home and property fire-safe It's time to start preparing for the fire season. The video discusses tips on making your home less vulnerable to wildfire this summer.
Making Your Forestland Fire-Safe Join Alicia Jones (Oregon State University Extension) and Kyle Reed (Douglas Forest Protective Association) to look at possible treatments you should consider to make your forestland more resilient to wildfire.