Ready for the Next Fire

by October Graham

For those of us living in the Willamette Valley, it's not a question of if there will be a wildfire close to home, but when. 

The Holiday Farm Fire of 2020 spread east down the McKenzie River Valley towards Eugene, Oregon. As it burned, it destroyed 400 homes. This won’t be the last fire we see, because fire is a natural and necessary part of the forests we call home. Even as fires become more frequent and more intense, more of us are moving into the forested areas vulnerable to those fires. 

"Folks should know that where they live is worth protecting," said Alison Green, defensible space coordinator for the Oregon State Fire Marshall. Alison works with Oregon residents to help them prepare their homes for fire. This can be a daunting undertaking for people who don't know where to start, but identifying the key problems and their solutions is the first step.

The wildland-urban interface (WUI) is the area in which houses and buildings overlap with forested settings. Fires spread quickly in these areas due to the density of vegetation, posing a danger to nearby structures. One of the key wildfire threats to our neighborhoods, embers from wildfires can be carried by the wind and ignite fires in nearby neighborhoods.

While direct flames do pose a threat to the home, even the radiant heat from them alone can be enough to ignite a structure built from flammable material.

"As fast as homes burn now, a home can be fully involved and be considered a complete loss within a matter of minutes," Alison said.

"The roof is the most vulnerable part of the house. It should be covered with a non-combustible covering. That’s everything from asphalt shingles, to tiles, to metal," Alison said. "Even if it’s non combustible it needs to be in good condition: No gaps, no years and years of pine needles and leaves stacking up on top of it."

The under-deck area is another area where flammable debris can pile up. It is also important that the deck and the siding of the house are made of a fire resistant material, such as composite, stucco, or concrete. Having a water source, like a long garden hose, could save your home in a fire.

Defensible space means creating and maintaining space between the home and vegetation nearby, such as trees and shrubs. Reducing the vegetation around the house can slow the spread of the fire, which allows for easier evacuation.

"At the end of the day, fire is one of the only natural disasters that homeowners can actually reduce the intensity of as it gets closer to their house," Alison said. "You can’t lessen a hurricane’s intensity as it’s coming towards your home. Wildfires are about the only one that we can actually do something about, which is incredible."

Living in Oregon means accepting the reality of wildfires and the threat they pose. By being aware of how fires spread through our neighborhoods and taking steps to make our structures more resilient to them, we have the power to create safer homes and communities.

Click the button below to learn more about how to prepare your home for wildfire.