Is your home ready for wildfire season?

Is your home ready for wildfire season? Save these dates for upcoming FireFree recycling events!

According to data released Thursday by CoreLogic, nearly 13,000 in Deschutes County, are currently designed at "High" or "Very High" risk for wildfire damage, representing a combined total reconstruction value estimated at more than $237 billion. There are some simple steps you can take to prepare your home and community for the upcoming fire season.

Fire science tells us that if you have created and maintained a defensible/survivable space around your home, it has an 80% chance of surviving a wildfire without fire department assistance.  Those are great odds and FireFree encourages residents to take that bet and get prepared for the upcoming wildfire season.  Now is the time to clean up your yards and create defensible spaces around homes and recycle that debris at FireFree collection sites FOR FREE in Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. 

Friday, May 1 THROUGH May 9 at Knott Landfill in Bend (closed Sunday).

Fridays & Saturdays, May 1 & 2 and May 8 & 9 at the Westside Collection Site in Bend.

Friday & Saturday, May 15 & 16 at Deschutes County Transfer Sites:
Negus Transfer Station in Redmond
Northwest Transfer Station in Cloverdale (Sisters)
Southwest Transfer Station in La Pine

Friday & Saturday May 8 & 9 at the Sunriver Compost Site in Sunriver.

Saturday & Sunday May 2 & 3 and 9 & 10 at Box Canyon Transfer Site in Madras.

FireFree reminds you to take a look around your property in the “home ignition zone” where glowing embers can ignite spot fires and vulnerable areas like decks, patios and fences that can spread flames to your home.   And take advantage of upcoming FireFree Recycling Events to dispose of the debris for FREE.  

Where are your most vulnerable places for glowing embers to ignite your home?

1. Are your gutters and roof valleys free from debris like pine needles and leaves? Clean them out.  Despite a metal or asphalt shingle roof, the buildup of gutter debris provides necessary fuel for the glowing embers to ignite adjacent fascia boards or siding – most often made of wood.

2. Do your shrubs and weeds provide a path of fuel for fire to reach your trees or home?  Reduce shrubs and other “ladder fuels” around your home to reduce the threat of ground fires igniting nearby trees, or your home. 

3. What can catch fire on your deck or patio or near your fence?  Remove weeds, shrubs or any combustible materials from around, under or on top of your deck, patio or wood fence.   This includes toys, planters, construction materials, patio furniture and cushions along with even small piles of pine needles or leaves.  

4. Is your woodpile near your home or other combustible vegetation?  Move woodpiles at least 20 feet away from your home or other combustibles.

Visit the FireFree website at www.firefree.org for more information about how you can prepare your property for wildfire season. www.projectwildfireoregon.blogspot.com or www.firefree.org.