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 evacuation, roads become congested with dust and smoke, making travel slow. Leave early whenever possible!

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1. Sign up!

• Deschutes Alerts for emergency notices

• COFIRE for smoke & wildfire alerts

• Watch Duty app

2. Be ready to evacuate!

• Make a plan​ 

• Pack a "Go Bag"

• Dress for survival

• Understand evacuation levels

• Use real-time evacuation routes

3. Be insurance-ready!

• Inventory & video your belongings

• Copy important documents 

• ​Review your current policy

• Check for adequate coverage

• Understand the claims process

• Avoid post-disaster scams

4. Stay vigilant!

• Monitor the weather 

• Fire potential forecasts

• Heed "Red Flag Warnings"

• Track air quality & smoke 

• Monitor Central Oregon wildfires

• Prepare for smoke

5. 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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WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

For practical suggestions to reduce your home's vulnerability to fire:​​

 

Book a free Wildfire Risk Assessment​​​

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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 combustible deck and fence attachments, and first 5 feet.

 

Reducing vegetation 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): 

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HARDEN YOUR HOME​​​

1. Understand the threat from wildfire 

2. IBHS' Make Your Home Wildfire Ready

3. Understand home hardening

4. Clean your roofs & gutters

5. Maintain your skylights

6. Screen vents & reduce attic storage

7. Close gaps in eaves & soffits

8. Screen decks & learn how decks ignite

9. Address combustible fencing within 5 feet

10. Use noncombustible fences & gates

11. Rely on proven strategies, not coatings

12. A word of caution: external sprinklers

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CREATE DEFENSIBLE SPACE​

1. Your guide to defensible space

2. Create a 5 foot noncombustible zone

3. Bend Fire's Own Your Zone: First Five Feet 

4. Use fire-resistant plants

5. Avoid highly flammable plants

6. Check your defensible space

 

 

​NEED HELP?

Deschutes County maintains a list of qualified, fuel reduction contractors:​

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Deschutes Co Fuel Reduction Qualified Pool

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

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

As part of the application process, the community wildfire risk assessment by state forestry and fire agency experts will help residents understand the risks and identify the most effective actions across the community to prevent home ignitions during a wildfire. 

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

 

Becoming Firewise means, quite simply, that your community acknowledges the risks of wildfire and is banding together to prepare.
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Firewise is sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association, US Forest Service, US Department of the Interior, and National Association of State Foresters. 

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Learn more about the benefits :

• 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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INSURANCE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety offers a certificate for wildfire-prepared homes for a fee: ​

 

IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Designation

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