Own Your Zone
Wildfires happen naturally in Oregon’s forests. They’ve threatened our community before, and they will again. That’s why we encourage everyone to ‘Own Your Zone’ and help protect homes and neighborhoods by creating defensible space.
Own Your Zone: First Five Feet provides information on simple steps you can take to protect their homes from wildfire. No matter if you live in the city or in the rural areas of Central Oregon, there are things you can do—even in the first five feet around your house—to make your home safer. It all starts with you. Choosing to Own Your Zone could help save your home, your neighbors’ homes, and maybe even your whole neighborhood.
What is Defensible Space?
Wildfires can cause destruction very quickly—especially when flammable fuels, like dry and dead plants and other combustible materials help the fire progress. That’s why creating defensible space around your home is so important.
Research shows that homes usually catch fire in two main ways during a wildfire:
Embers
Embers are tiny, burning pieces of wood or plants that get carried by the wind—sometimes more than a mile ahead of the main fire. 90% of homes that burn from wildfire are ignited by embers. These embers can land on dry leaves, pine needles, or other flammable materials near your home and start new fires. It only takes one ember to start a fire.
Surface Fires
Surface fires burn things like dry grass, leaves, and small plants that are close to the ground. These fires can start small but grow quickly if there’s a lot of dry fuel. If they get close to homes, they can be very dangerous.
Protect Your Home by Zone
Houses that don’t ignite, don’t burn down. Consider these zones (immediate, intermediate, and extended) in your home-hardening efforts, focusing especially on the first five feet around your home’s foundation.
Zone 1: Focus on the Closest
Immediate Zone: Zero to Five Feet
- Clean leaves, pine needles, etc. from roof and gutters.
- Repair loose or missing roof shingles, windows or screens.
- Install 1/8-inch metal mesh screening over attic, crawlspace and eave vents.
- Remove flammables (mulch, leaves, needles, firewood) away from wall exteriors and under decks.
- Use non-combustible ground cover (cement pavers, crushed stone, mineral soil).
Learn more about Zone 1 in the Let’s Talk Bend Podcast:
Zone 2: Rake it Before Fire Takes it
Intermediate Zone: Five to 30 Feet
- Mow lawn and rake debris/leaves regularly.
- Landscape with fire-resistant plants.
- Prune low-hanging and wide tree branches from within five feet of house.
- Mark street signs/house numbers clearly for emergency vehicles.
Learn more about Zone 2 in the Let’s Talk Bend Podcast:
Zone 3: Make Flames Stay Away
Extended Zone: 30 to 100 Feet
- Store firewood at least 30 feet from house
- Create fuel breaks with hardscape features
- Keep vegetation moist to prevent floating embers from causing fires
- Minimize ladder fuels (vertical flammables) to decrease fire intensity
Learn more about Zone 3 in the Let’s Talk Bend Podcast:
FireFree Yard Debris Recycling
FireFree is an annual spring event held by Deschutes County where you can dump your yard debris for FREE! Yard debris is chipped and processed into different types of ground cover and mulch, all of which can be purchased to help improve your home gardens and landscaping year-round.
FireFree 2025 has concluded for the season. Check with your local recycling centers for more information on recycling yard debris.
For more information on other locations and what can or cannot be recycled:
Firewise USA®
The national Firewise USA® recognition program provides a collaborative framework to help neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community and to reduce wildfire risks at the local level. Bend has over 40 certified communities!
Reach out to the Project Wildfire Neighborhood Coalition for a local mentor to help guide you through the process to becoming Firewise USA® recognized:
How does Bend Fire & Rescue and the City of Bend support Firewise USA®?
Firewise Events
Bend Fire & Rescue is always happy to support groups looking to become Firewise USA® sites. If you are planning an event and would like to have someone there to help provide training, please call Bend Fire Administration at (541) 322-6300.
Free Dumpster Permits
The City of Bend recognizes the threat of wildfire and also wants to promote mitigation efforts by supporting groups interested in reducing the risk of wildfire in their neighborhood and community. The City is Offering free permits for Firewise USA® communities in Bend (or those in the process of becoming a Firewise USA® community) to place dumpsters on City rights-of-way for yard debris removal events. Note: A minimum of 30 days’ notice is required.
Deschutes County Sweat Equity Bin Rental Program
Deschutes County offers a garbage bin rental program and has set aside $75,000 to cover trash bin rentals for approximately 30 communities. Applications are open through Feb. 28, 2025. Find more information and apply:
