Defensible Space
Creating defensible space can help all Oregonians be prepared for wildfire.
What is defensible space?
Defensible space is the buffer you create between your business or home and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surrounds it. Proper defensible space can slow or stop the spread of wildfire and help protect your home or business. This checklist provides recommendations for getting started and includes actions you can take in the short term, such as over a weekend, and options to consider when upgrading your home or landscape.
Defensible space can offer protection from firebrands and embers that can travel several miles from the firefront. Studies show that wellmaintained defensible space can increase structures' chances of surviving a wildfire, providing protection even if firefighters cannot reach it.
Following these recommendations can increase the likelihood your home or business will survive a wildfire, but they may not eliminate wildfire threat, so it is important to follow all evacuation orders in the event of a wildfire.
Steps to Create Defensible Space
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To start, look at your home to make sure combustible materials like dried pine needles, and leaves are removed from gutters, eaves, and around your chimney.
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Limb trees several feet off the ground to help avoid fire from getting into the tree crowns.
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Keep patios clean of dry combustible materials during times of high fire danger.
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Remove flammable items like outdoor furniture cushions.
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If possible, keep dry wood piles and construction debris 30 feet away from your home.
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Make sure bushes around your home are limbed and not touching the siding.
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Roofs and gutters are clean from leaves, conifer needles, and other debris.
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Flammable vegetation is removed from growing directly under the eaves. A minimum of five feet from the structure is recommended.
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Exterior attic vents, soffit vents, and areas below decks and patios are covered with 1/8″ metal wire mesh.
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Siding and skirting are in good condition.
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Leaves, conifer needles, deadwood, bark mulch, and other debris removed from the surface of, around, and below decks and fences.
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Fence attachments to the structure have a noncombustible alternative such as a metal gate or fence.
