Are You Ready for Wildfire?

Did you know that 70% of reported wildfires were caused by humans in 2023? Join us in spreading awareness and taking action this Wildfire Awareness Month! Follow these tips to protect your family, property, and Oregon’s public lands year-round.

Wildfires can behave unpredictably and move quickly. It is essential to sign up for local emergency alerts so you can receive lifesaving information and instructions. Sign up for your county and city alerts via the OR-Alert website, and be sure that “Emergency Alerts” are turned on in your phone’s settings.

Oregon follows a three-level evacuation notification system. Always know the current levels and what they mean so you can make the best decision to keep yourself and your family safe. Make an emergency plan with your family so everyone in your household knows what to do and where to go if you need to quickly evacuate. Make sure your plan considers any older adults, children, people with disabilities, pets, or livestock in your group.

It is important to pack a go-bag of emergency supplies long before any wildfire or other natural disaster. Take time to make a list of everything you would need or want to bring with you in case you had to evacuate your home quickly. Your go-bag should include:

You should also include additional supplies for older adults, children, people with disabilities, and pets who might evacuate with you. Store your go-bag where it would be accessible during quick evacuations and make sure it is light enough to carry.

You can protect your home and property from the devastation of wildfire by creating defensible space. Defensible space is the buffer space around your home where you have removed flammable materials, including tall grass, trees and combustible debris like leaves and dead vegetation. This defensible space can slow or stop the spread of wildfire, including mitigating threats from embers and firebrands that could travel from several miles away. Using fire-resistant materials for construction and fire-resistant plants for landscaping can also help to protect your property.

In addition to creating defensible space to protect your home from wildfires, do your part to avoid sparking a fire on your property. The leading causes for Oregon wildfires in 2023 were escaped debris burning and equipment use!

Before burning yard debris or having a bonfire on your property, check with local fire agencies to see if burns are permitted and if you need a permit. If you are allowed to burn, keep your burn pile small. It should be a maximum of four feet wide and four feet tall and surrounded by a 10-foot radius of ground that has been scraped down to bare mineral soil. To prevent your fire from getting out of control, only burn yard debris (not trash) and use natural materials to start fires instead of gasoline.  Always have water and a shovel on hand and make sure your fire is completely out before leaving it.

Powered equipment like lawnmowers can also create sparks and start fires on dry, windy days. Before using power equipment, check with local fire agencies to see if there are any equipment use restrictions, such as requirements to mow lawns early in the morning or later in the evening. Also check your lawn for rocks that could spark if struck by a metal blade and avoid starting your equipment near dry grass.

When traveling to America’s public lands, it is important to know before you go and recreate responsibly. In the summer, many land management agencies will prohibit campfires and generators due to high fire danger. Always check public use restrictions before heading out. If you are allowed to have a campfire, keep it small! Make sure there are no overhanging branches and scrape away grass, leaves, and pine needles around your fire pit down to bare mineral soil. Drown your campfire with water and make sure your it is dead out and cold to the touch before leaving it. If you are cooking on a grill instead of a fire, wait until coals and ashes are cool before disposing of them.

When traveling on public lands, you can also prevent wildfires that could be sparked by your vehicle. Keep your vehicle in good condition, and ensure that all tow chains and mufflers are secure and not dragging. Avoid parking on tall dry grass, and instead  park on gravel or developed roadside pullouts. Only operate ATVs on established roads and trails, and always carry a shovel, bucket, and fire extinguisher.