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Build a Defensible Space Around Your Home
One of joys of living in Zena and Spring Valley is being surrounded by the natural beauty of Oregon and the Willamette Valley. However, living in the country does bring responsibility of protecting your home from wild fires. There are things you can do that could lower the impact of your home being damaged if a wild fire does occur in your area.
Defensible Space
The area around a home or other structure that has been modified to reduce fire hazard. In this area natural and man made fuels are treated, cleared or reduced to slow the spread of a wildfire.
Zone 0: The area nearest the home and other structures stretching 0-5 ft outward from the structure. This zone requires maximum hazard reduction. Irrigate grass, remove dead branches, stems and leaves, and remove pine needles and other debris from roof/gutters.
Zone 1: The transitional area of fuels reduction between zones 0 and 2 extends 5 to 30 feet from all structures. Remove diseased, dead or dying shrubs. Remove enough trees and large shrubs to create at least 10 feet between crowns. If you have a long driveway that extends from your home, thin trees within a 30 foot buffer. As in zone 0, the more trees and shrubs removed, the more likely your house will survive a wildfire.
Zone 2: The area farthest from the home that extends from the edge of zone 2 to your property boundaries. Limit snags to 2-3 per acre and make sure snags pose no threats to power lines or fire department access roads. While mowing your grass in this zone is not necessary, any approved method of slash treatment is acceptable.
Build a Defensible Space
To build a defensible space around your home to protect it from wildfires, consider these bullet points based on the provided search results:
Defensible Space Zone One (0-30 feet from the structure): This zone requires removing flammable materials and managing vegetation.
Remove flammable materials: Clear debris from yards, roofs, and gutters; remove dead vegetation; keep combustible items like firewood and propane tanks away from structures.
Manage vegetation: Trim trees, use fire-resistant plants, keep grass short, and maintain spacing between plants.
Home & Property Specifics: Focus on making structural elements fire-resistant.
Roofs & Chimneys: Use fire-resistant materials and regularly remove debris.
Vents & Windows: Install non-flammable mesh and consider dual-pane windows.
Walls & Decks: Use fire-resistant siding and deck materials.
Fencing: Use noncombustible materials for fence attachments to the structure.
Driveways & Access Roads: Maintain clearance, ensure gates allow emergency access, and make house numbers visible.
Water Supply: Have hoses that can reach all areas.
General Maintenance & Preparedness: Stay prepared through regular checks and awareness.
Check local ordinances.
Mark your address clearly.
Keep tools ready for fire crews.
Properly dispose of ashes and charcoal.
Regularly inspect your defensible space.
Stay informed about wildfire risks.
Know how to manually open garage doors.
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