SALEM, Ore. – May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal is encouraging all Oregonians to get prepared for the upcoming wildfire season. Creating defensible space is one of the most important things you can do to protect your home and increase the chances it will survive a wildfire.
The OSFM offers free defensible space assessments to Oregonians who want to start creating defensible space or those who want to optimize their current plan. For a limited time, people living in select areas of the state may be eligible for a $250 payment after receiving an assessment. Request an assessment and read more details at www.oregondefensiblespace.org.
“Creating defensible space might feel overwhelming but taking it one project at a time can go a long way in protecting your home,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “May is a great time to tackle these projects before the heat of summer arrives.”
A few projects you can consider this month include:
- Space and prune trees.
- Remove leaves, needles, wood, bark mulch, and other debris from within 100 feet of buildings or to the property line.
- Remove leaves, needles, and other debris from roofs and gutters.
- Move flammable material away from the outside of your home, including mulch, flammable plants, leaves, and needles.
- Prevent plants from growing directly under the eaves; a minimum of five feet away is recommended.
- Keep firewood piles and lumber at least 30 feet from any structure.
- Maintain the plants in your yard. Clean out old leaves or pine needles from your plants and prune away dead parts.
For a detailed guide on how to create defensible space at your home, click here.
When creating defensible space, you may have debris to get rid of. The OSFM suggests chipping, composting, or recycling it. If you must burn the debris, follow all local burning restrictions and be safe when using fire. Escaped debris burns are the number one cause of human-sparked fires in Oregon.
During Wildfire Awareness Month, the OSFM, along with our partners, is encouraging, empowering, and informing Oregonians to help prevent and prepare for wildfire. For more resources and information, visit the OSFM’s Wildfire Awareness Month webpage.
SALEM, Ore – The Oregon State Fire Marshal is excited to announce the launch of the Oregon Fire Service Health and Safety Collaborative, a pioneering program that will enhance the support systems for firefighters throughout Oregon. This collaborative is a significant commitment to the health and safety of the men and women serving in the fire service across the state, ensuring they receive needed support in their critical role.
Firefighting is an intense and demanding profession that poses numerous physical, psychological, and environmental challenges. Recognizing these challenges, the Oregon Fire Service Health and Safety Collaborative will create a robust support system by aligning resources and providing dedicated support to fire service personnel.
The program is built around a visionary framework designed to address the diverse needs of all fire service personnel in Oregon. Focusing on critical areas such as behavioral health, physical wellness, cancer prevention, and incident safety, the collaborative aims to cultivate a resilient and thriving firefighting community.
The core of the collaborative includes:
- Establishing a forum for equal contribution from all partners.
- Coordinating efforts across various agencies.
- Representing a wide range of perspectives within the Oregon fire service.
By following these principles, the OSFM hopes to nurture a culture of collaboration, support, and continuous improvement.
"The Oregon Fire Service Health and Safety Collaborative is a proactive approach to confronting the unique challenges faced by our firefighters," Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. "This collaborative is not just about addressing immediate needs but about building a foundation for long-term resilience and excellence in our fire service."
The collaborative serves as a hub for resources to simplify access to necessary support services. Fire service personnel seeking assistance with behavioral health services, cancer prevention strategies, or incident safety protocols will find valuable resources and guidance.
The work forming the collaborative and its success was guided by a sub-committee of the Governor’s Fire Service Policy Council. On Thursday, the group was honored for their work by the Oregon Fire Chief’s Association with a 2024 Award of Excellence.
As the collaborative moves forward, the Oregon State Fire Marshal is committed to the continuous evaluation and enhancement of the support systems, ensuring they effectively meet the evolving needs of Oregon's firefighting community.
We invite all fire service members and partners to join us in this vital program. Together, we can ensure a safer, healthier future for all firefighters and the communities they protect.
For more information about the Oregon Fire Service Health and Safety Collaborative, please visit www.oregon.gov/osfm/healthandsafety.