Fire science tells us that if you have created and maintained a defensible/survivable space around your home, it has an 80 percent chance of surviving a wildfire without fire department assistance. Those are great odds and FireFree encourages residents to take that bet and get prepared for the upcoming wildfire season.
Now is the time to clean up your yards and create defensible spaces around homes and recycle that debris at FireFree collection sites FOR FREE in Deschutes and
Friday, May 3 THROUGH May 11 at Knott Landfill in
Fridays & Saturdays, May 3 & 4 and May 10 & 11 at the Westside Collection Site in
Friday & Saturday, May 17 & 18 at Deschutes
Negus Transfer Station in
Northwest Transfer Station in Cloverdale
Southwest Transfer Station in La Pine
Friday & Saturday May 3 & 4 at the Sunriver Compost Site in Sunriver.
Saturday & Sunday May 4 & 5 and 11 & 12 at
FireFree reminds you to take a look around your property in the “home ignition zone” where glowing embers can ignite spot fires and vulnerable areas like decks, patios and fences that can spread flames to your home. And take advantage of upcoming FireFree Recycling Events to dispose of the debris for FREE.
Where are your most vulnerable places for glowing embers to ignite your home?
- Are your gutters and roof valleys free from debris like pine needles and leaves? Clean them out. Despite a metal or asphalt shingle roof, the buildup of gutter debris provides necessary fuel for the glowing embers to ignite adjacent fascia boards or siding – most often made of wood.
- Do your shrubs and weeds provide a path of fuel for fire to reach your trees or home? Reduce shrubs and other “ladder fuels” around your home to reduce the threat of ground fires igniting nearby trees, or your home.
- What can catch fire on your deck or patio or near your fence? Remove weeds, shrubs or any combustible materials from around, under or on top of your deck, patio or wood fence. This includes toys, planters, construction materials, patio furniture and cushions along with even small piles of pine needles or leaves.
- Is your wood pile near your home or other combustible vegetation? Move wood piles at least 20 feet away from your home or other combustibles.
Visit the FireFree website at www.firefree.org for more information about how you can prepare your property for wildfire season.
