Making
your property resistant to wildfire involves three key
elements shown in the "Defensible Space Triangle."
They include:
a
home constructed or retro-fitted with fire-resistant
building materials (e.g., fire-resistant roof);
having fire-resistant landscaping around your home;
removing fuel around
your home.
When
you incorporate all three elements of the Defensible
Space Triangle, your home and property are more likely
to survive a wildfire. The resources listed below will
help you create a defensible home and landscape.
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Firewise
Website
This is an excellent source for information on fire-resistant
landscaping, home construction, and defensible space.
Fire-Resistant
Landscaping and Creating Defensible Space Zones
This publication from the Colorado Extension Service
provides step-by-step instructions for developing
a fire-resistant landscape.
Fire-Resistant
Plants for Home Landscapes (pdf)
Having plants in you home landscape that are resistant to
fire can reduce the threat of fire to your home. This
color publication by Oregon State University Extension
Service provides detailed lists of fire-resistant
ground covers, perennials, shrubs and trees.
Fire-Resistant
Home Construction (pdf)
This fact sheet developed by Firewise provides a
checklist of things to consider when constructing
a fire-resistant home. The checklist provides tips
for proper home location, siding, roofing, and window
choices, and other home construction techniques.
Oregon
Department of Forestry
The Oregon Department provides wildfire protection
to private property in Oregon. This website provides
information on protection from wildfire, fire laws
and regulations, and other helpful tips for protecting
your home and property from wildfire. |
 
In
1997 the Oregon Legislature passed the Oregon Forestland-Urban
Interface Fire Protection Act (also known as Senate
Bill 360). This law recognizes that home owners need
to become actively involved in protecting their home
from wildfire by reducing fuel around their home and
driveway. Homeowners who complete fuel reduction work
“self certify” they have complied with the
law by returning a certification card to the Oregon
Department of Forestry. However, if a fire originates
and spreads from a property and a certification card
has not been returned, the homeowner may be liable
for fire suppression costs up to $100,000. You can
find out more about this important law and its requirements
on the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Fire
Prevention page, on the left side of the page
scroll down and click on “Wildland-Urban Interface
(SB360).”
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