With snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Mountains framing views to the west, and the arid high desert extending to the east, the beauty and uniqueness of central Oregon is spectacular. With this beauty, however, comes the very real risk of wildfire. Central Oregon communities experience large wildfires virtually every summer that threaten lives, property, wildlife and our beautiful landscape. Evacuations during these events cause an even greater challenge.
Every summer, storms move across the region bringing lightning strikes that cause hundreds of wildfires. Wildfire is a fact of life in central Oregon. Add to this fact the hundreds of wildfires caused by careless people and it’s a recipe for disaster. By taking responsibility for creating defensible space on your own property, you greatly reduce your chances of losing your home to wildfire. Act now!
FireFree History
Awbrey Hall Fire
It began on August 4, 1990, and in 10 short hours, this fire grew to 3,500 acres. It jumped three major roads and the Deschutes River in that time. 3,000 people were evacuated even though many knew their home might not be there when they returned. Many homeowners tried to stay until the last moment to defend their homes as they watched the flame front get closer to their backyards. Once officials evacuated the majority of the residents, the concern grew that the fire would reach people who were waiting to escape in their cars. Awbrey Hall caused $9 million in total damages, including suppression costs and insurance claims. All 22 of the homes lost were in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). A wildland fire was the last thing residents considered when moving into the forests of beautiful Central Oregon and most had not planned for it. After assessing the damage of Awbrey Hall, officials found that the majority of the homes that had fallen victim were lacking in their defensible space.
The Skeleton Fire
In August 1996 dry lightning ignited the Skeleton Fire on the east side of Bend and, almost immediately, Bend Fire Department sounded the call for the evacuation of homeowners in the fire’s path. Flames moved quickly west toward a more populated area. The fire grew to 17,000 acres and consumed 30 homes and outbuildings. In hours, it forced the evacuation of 450 homes and caused $2 million in damage. Firefighters reported they did not have time to assess some homes—they had to move on. Many residents knew that if the fire reached their backyard, their home would not survive. Driven solely by wind, the Skeleton Fire threatened to be worse than Awbrey Hall, but a break in the winds allowed crews to suppress it before further damage.
The Change
Both of these large fires had unimaginable losses and devastated the Central Oregon community. Many homeowners appreciated the natural landscape and did not think it needed any improvement. Living in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)—and the steps to mitigate risk—was not addressed then as it is now. These large WUI wildfires motivated an outreach program unlike any other in Central Oregon. The program would hold each individual responsible for their own space while empowering homeowners to defend property by defining defensible space. These steps remain at the core of the FireFree program as a simple checklist anyone can use to protect their home against large wildfires. The goal of FireFree was to empower community “spark plugs” and inspire a grassroots movement.
FireFree was Born
Once the losses from the Skeleton Fire were tallied, a local insurance company offered to buy a new fire engine for Bend Fire Department. The Fire Marshal proposed a better use of funds: launch a comprehensive education program and purchase educational materials. Instead of a single engine protecting one home at a time, a program could help protect thousands. The program would teach homeowners to create defensible space—at least a 30-foot buffer of reduced vegetation around the home—to mitigate advancing fire. FireFree set out to change behavior first and, over time, attitudes and culture around wildfire preparedness. This proactive idea marked the beginning of FireFree in Central Oregon and the ten-step checklist any homeowner can use.
FireFree Events
The very first FireFree event began as a curbside pick-up of debris in select neighborhoods. Participation was so high that staff could not keep up. Deschutes County Solid Waste stepped in to host events at Solid Waste sites throughout the county. They remain an irreplaceable partner in wildfire preparedness in Central Oregon.
FireFree days typically occur each spring and fall. Spring days are free for residents to drop off yard debris at landfills throughout Deschutes County. Fall days are half-price at Deschutes Recycling in Bend. Over a ten-year average, FireFree days have collected 28,643 cubic yards of debris. Since 1999, a total of 444,605 cubic yards have been collected—enough to fill almost 44,500 dump trucks.