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Weekend Wildfire Warriors – Immediate Zone

Firewise Immediate Zone is 0-5 ft from your home.

Firewise Immediate Zone is 0-5 ft from your home. (NFPA.org)

Summer is fast approaching and with the prediction of drought conditions, many of us are a little uneasy about the possibility of wildfire. Now is the time to put that nervous energy to work in making our properties more fire-resistant and making plans to keep ourselves, our family, and our pets or livestock safe.

There are many things we can do to achieve wildfire preparedness, but it can become overwhelming. That is why the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District recommends undertaking this challenge in bite-sized chunks. For the next few weeks, we will share with you tasks that can make your home and property more fire-resistant.

According to Firewise USA and the National Fire Protection Association, we should look at our property in three separate zones. The immediate zone (0 to 5 feet from your home) is the first zone to tackle this weekend.

Wildfire Immediate Zone Checklist

Get your family involved and start on this list:

Just a side note, if you use an organic mulch or landscape bark near your home, keep it moist so embers cannot ignite the material. Another option is to consider non-flammable options like shells or rock.

Assess areas around your home to limit fire danger. (NFPA.org)

Stay Tuned and Additional Resources

Check out these resources to learn more about the area and what actions to take to reduce your risk in this zone:

We thank Firewise USA and the National Fire Protection Association for this timely and useful information.

In the coming weeks, we will look at the Intermediate Zone and Extended Zone for the tasks we need to tackle.

For additional information on wildfire preparedness, check out the OSU Cooperative Extension webinar series Fire Aware. Be Prepared. Wildfire Wednesdays. This webinar series has been recorded so you may view an episode at your convenience.