Fire marshal issues wildland fire notice

Creating defensible space around your home is the best way to protect your home from wildfire in the wildland-urban interface, according to Hood River Fire Marshal Peter Mackwell.

The first 30 feet surrounding your home — referred to as the primary ignition zone — is the most critical and there are some simple actions that a homeowner can take to help protect their homes from wildfire that are easy, quick, and relatively inexpensive, such as:

n Removing dead and dying debris — particularly from places that it piles up near the home such as in gutters and planters, any “valleys” that can catch debris that embers and sparks can blow onto — the most common way for a wildfire to damage or destroy a home in the wildland-urban interface.

n Storing firewood at least 20 feet away from the home or completely covering it to protect it from those same blowing embers and sparks.

n Properly maintaining the plants that are in the area — pruning, removing dead and dying materials, and keeping them well-watered and green.

A defensible space also allows room for firefighters to fight the fire safely.

Protecting your home from wildfire falls into three categories:

n using fire-resistant building materials (such as roofing)

n reducing fuels around your home (such as wood piles)

n planting fire-resistant plants in your landscape

While these steps do not ensure that your home will survive a wildfire, they substantially increase the chances that it will.

If you have additional questions regarding wildland fire safety, come by the fire station located at 1785 Meyer Parkway or call the fire station at 541-386-3939.