Create a Defensible Space for Fire Safety

Create a Defensible Space

Oregon’s Forestland-Urban Interface Protection Act and You In 1997 the Oregon Legislature passed the Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act (also known as Senate Bill 360). This law recognizes that home owners need to become actively involved in protecting their home from wildfire by reducing fuel around their home and driveway. Homeowners who complete fuel reduction work “self certify” they have complied with the law by returning a certification card to the Oregon Department of Forestry. However, if a fire originates and spreads from a property and a certification card has not been returned, the homeowner may be liable for fire suppression costs up to $100,000. You can find out more about this important law and its requirements on the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Fire Prevention page.

Fire Protection in the Wildland Urban Interface Here you will fine links to self certification https://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/UrbanInterface.aspx Oregon’s Defensible Space Law enlists the aid of property owners to better protect their homes and firefighters during encroaching wildfires. The law requires property owners to reduce excess vegetation, which may fuel a fire, around homes and other structures. In some cases, it is also necessary to create fuel breaks along property lines and roadsides.

If your home has been assessed by the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District, you can see your wildfire preparedness rating by going to oregonrsg.org and clicking on the “My Risk: Go to the Map” link.

Current Wildfire Information website The Central Oregon Fire Information website has current wildfire information from all public agencies: http://www.centraloregonfire.org

Defensible Space Reimbursement Program Defensible Space Reimbursement Program: Now accepting new applications for 2019. The UDRC will help landowners in the UDRC area neighborhoods with the cost of creating or maintaining defensible space for wildfire risk reduction. The UDRC will reimburse 100% of your fuels reduction expenses up to $500 maximum per landowner. This program is available for communities between Spring River Road and La Pine State Recreation Road including the Spring River, Haner Park, and Wild River communities. Go to the UDRC website to print the application. www.UDRC.org