The best time to prepare is before a crisis. Know how you'll evacuate and reconnect with family and friends. Your safety matters most. During an evacuation, roads become congested with dust and smoke, making travel slow. Leave early whenever possible!

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1. SIGN UP FOR ALERTS

• Deschutes Alerts for emergency notices

• COFIRE for smoke & wildfire alerts

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2. BE READY TO EVACUATE

• Make a plan​ 

• Pack a "Go Bag"

• Dress for survival

• Understand evacuation levels

• Use real-time evacuation routes

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3. BE "INSURANCE-READY" FOR LOSS

• Inventory & video your belongings

• Copy important documents 

• ​Review your current policy

• Check for adequate coverage

• Understand the claims process

• Know how to avoid post-disaster scams

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4. BE READY FOR POWER LOSS

• Prepare for power outages

• Consider backup power

• Plan for medical needs

• Apply for a medical certificate

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5. STAY VIGILANT DURING "FIRE YEAR"

• Monitor the weather 

• Follow fire potential forecasts

• Heed "Red Flag Warnings"

• Track air quality & smoke 

• Monitor Central Oregon wildfires

• Prepare for smoke

 

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Wildfires can quickly overcome available resources. It's important that your home is standalone defensible without fire suppression support. 

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Take recommended steps to harden your home and create defensible space to prevent ignition from embers, radiant heat and flame contact. Progress takes time so address the most critical zone first: your home, including deck and fence attachments, and the first 5 feet around your home's foundation.

 

Reducing vegetation and eliminating combustible materials in the 0-5 foot zone around your home will nearly double its likelihood of survival. Over time, work to extend your defenses to 30 feet, then 100 feet, or to your property line.  

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Recommendations from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) include: 

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1. HARDEN YOUR HOME​​​

• Understand the threat from wildfire 

• IBHS' Make Your Home Wildfire Ready

• Understand home hardening

• Clean your roofs & gutters

• Maintain your skylights

• Screen vents & reduce attic storage

• Close gaps in eaves & soffits

• Screen decks & learn how decks ignite

• Address combustible fencing within 5 feet

• Use noncombustible fences & gates

• Rely on proven strategies, not coatings

• A word of caution: external sprinklers

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2. CREATE DEFENSIBLE SPACE​

• Your guide to defensible space

• Create a 5 foot noncombustible zone

• Bend Fire's Own Your Zone: First Five Feet 

• Use fire-resistant plants

• Avoid highly flammable plants

• Check your defensible space

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Firewise Communities help neighbors work together to protect their homes from wildfire, prevent loss, and provide firefighters a safer place to fight fire. 

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1. WORK WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS

Home ignition zones often overlap so collaborating with neighbors can help improve safety and fire outcomes for everyone.
 

2. BECOME A FIREWISE COMMUNITY

Firewise USA is sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association, US Forest Service, US Department of the Interior, and National Association of State Foresters. 

 

As part of the Firewise application process, state forestry and local fire agency experts will conduct a community wildfire risk assessment to help you and your neighbors understand your collective risks and identify the most effective actions across your community to prevent home ignitions during a wildfire. 

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​Community education builds awareness which leads to voluntary risk reduction and better preparation across the entire neighborhood over time. 

 

Becoming Firewise means, quite simply, that your community acknowledges the risks of wildfire and is banding together to prepare.​

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Program benefits include:

• Expert advice to prioritize your efforts

• Framework for action

• Free community education resources

• Increased community resiliency

• Greater peace of mind

• Stronger community relations

• Access to grant funding

• More likely insurance eligibility

• Possible insurance discounts​

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Find out if you live in a Firewise Community​​

Become a Firewise Community ​​​​

Contact us for help to get started!

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