Defensible space, coupled with home hardening, is essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire
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.
It’s called Defensible Space because it provides firefighters a safe area around your home to make a stand against an approaching fire. The work that you do around your structure may make a big difference to firefighters as they determine if it is safe to try to stay and defend your home. You can read more about Structure Triage Categories and how firefighters determine if it is safe to defend your structure here.
The Oregon State Fire Marshall provides a Home Assessment Checklist that you can use to assess your home yourself. AntFarm Youth services provides free home assessment within Mt Hood Corridor.
AntFarm Youth services provides free home assessment within the Mt Hood Corridor. Their Fuels Reduction Specialist will provide you with a list of actions you can take to improve your defensible space. In some cases AntFarm may even perform the fuels mitigations for residents in need.
Home Hardening.
Fire hardening describes steps that can be taken to make a home or business more resistant to damage from a wildfire, such as using materials for siding and/or roofing that resist ignition during a wildfire, installing fire resistant windows to protect openings, or using attic ventilation devices that help reduce ember intrusion. Funds may be available to help you harden your home against wildfire. Find out more below.
Are you Firewise?
Every year, devastating wildfires burn across the United States. At the same time, a growing number of people are living where wildfires are a real risk. While these fires will continue to happen, there are things you can do to protect your home and neighborhood as well as your family’s safety. The Firewise USA® program is here to help you get started.
