Wildfire Season is Here... Are You Prepared?

On the heels of a dry spring in California, farm and ranch country is feeling the pressure of this upcoming wildfire season. And despite a couple rain showers sprinkled throughout the next month, firefighters remind you that it only takes a few days of hot weather to dry out vegetation, making it susceptible to a fast moving fire.

Heather Miller, Fire Risk Education Specialist with the with the Oregon Fire Marshal’s office, says clearing debris from the roof of your home, barn, or shed is essential.

“It’s not the wall of flames that blow through a neighborhood that’s a risk, so much as it’s the ember shower that comes before the wall of flames. So, if we can get our house ready for those embers then we stand a much better chance of surviving a wildfire.”

She adds when clearing that debris, don’t forget about the rain gutters as well. And when it comes to the vegetation around your home… keep this short, trim with vegetation breaks.

“It’s not so much that a house is a miracle for surviving, it’s that it was able to withstand the ember shower that came through. And the vegetation breaks around the home were enough where the house could survive the fire.”

Miller says now is also a good time to prepare for possible evacuations if you live in areas prone to wildfires.