Wildfire Management

Wildfire Management

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On this page:

Fire-adapted ecosystems
Wildfire preparedness
Resources

More about resilient forests:

Forest Management Planning
Forest Rules to Know
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Photo Credit: USFS.

Photo Credit: ODF.

Photo Credit: ODF.

Photo Credit: ODF.

Photo Credit: ODF.

Forests in Washington County are fire-adapted ecosystemsEcosystems that have evolved experiencing wildfire at regular intervals.:

Fire is a natural disturbance that can help control disease and insects, reduce debris buildup and overcrowding, and increase biodiversityThe number of plant and animal species living in an area.. Although wildfire is a natural process, it presents a significant risk to human lives and property. As our communities continue to grow, more people live in and around forests. Whether you live on forestland, farmland, or in town, it is essential to prepare your home and property for wildfire.

Fires can start from natural causes (like lightning strikes) or human causes (like campfires, fireworks, or vehicles). Unlike the drier areas of Eastern Oregon, fires caused by lightning strikes are infrequent in Northwest Oregon. In the absence of fire, our forests become dense and accumulate fuelFuel can include anything from living and dead trees, shrubs, grassy fields, and human-built structures.. If a fire does start, it will likely be high intensity and have the potential to burn large portions of forests.

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Wildfire preparedness requires neighbors to work together:

Protecting your home:

Create a defensible zone around your home by implementing these practices within 30 feet of your house and other structures:

  • Replace highly flammable plants, such as juniper or arborvitae, with fire-resistant plants in your landscape.
  • Prune tree branches that overhang the house and other structures.
  • Trim trees regularly to keep branches at least 10 feet away from other trees.
  • Keep plants well-watered during dry spells and heatwaves.
  • Clean debris out of gutters, off the roof, and under decks.
  • Mow lawns regularly.
  • Do not store firewood near your home; keep all fuel at least 30 feet away from your home.
  • Maintain access for fire engines and emergency vehicles. Driveways should be at least 12 feet wide with a vertical clearance of 15 feet.

Additional defenses should be made within 100 feet of your house or other structures:

  • Reduce the amount of woody debris in your forest understoryThe layer of plants in a forest that exists under larger trees..
  • Increase spacing between trees (20 to 30 feet) by removing small or unhealthy trees.
  • Maintain a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees.
  • Create fuel breaks like driveways, gravel walkways, and lawn.
  • Prune trees to at least 10 feet above the ground.

Protecting your woodlands:

  • Maintain forest health with practices like planting site-specific species and thinning.
  • Reduce surface fuels such as excess slash leftover from a forest thinning.
  • Reduce fuels that would allow a fire to climb upward, such as low tree limbs, small trees, and brush growing under larger trees.
  • Retain larger trees of fire-resistant species like Oregon white oak, Willamette Valley ponderosa pine, and Douglas fir.

Contact our Forest Conservation Program to learn more about wildfire risk reduction on your property.

We can visit your property and provide recommendations for reducing wildfire risk in your woodlands.

Forest Conservation Program
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More About Resilient Forests:

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Understory Diversity

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September 11, 2020
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Douglas Fir Bark Beetle: The Forest Pest Every Woodland Owner Should Know

July 7, 2020