Thirteen Oregon communities were each awarded $500 to organize wildfire prevention projects in preparation for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. On May 4, these communities will join 144 others nationwide to work toward a common goal of wildfire risk reduction. As a call to action, the National Fire Protection Association’s Community Wildfire Preparedness Day gives people of all ages a chance to plan and participate in a wildfire preparedness or education activity that makes their community a safer place to live. Homes in the Wildland-Urban Interface- “Some 342,000 Oregon homes are located in forested areas, making them extremely vulnerable to wildfire,” said Kristin Babbs with Keep Oregon Green. “This event is a great way to raise awareness of this important issue, and to challenge family, friends and local organizations to participate in Wildfire Preparedness Day.” Defensible space and preparation-”Communities that actively prepare for wildfire events allow themselves the best chance for surviving these disasters. Working with your neighbors and creating defensible space around homes can make a huge difference in protecting your home and communities from fire,” says Tim Holschbach, Fire Prevention and Policy Manager for Oregon Department of Forestry. Collaboration, education, and prevention- “Reducing losses from wildfires is a shared responsibility among emergency managers, response agencies, and local community members,” said Tom Fields, Fire Prevention Manager with the Oregon Department of Forestry. “Through educational, individual and group activities, residents can learn more about the importance of wildfire preparedness and planning, and the power of prevention.” The following thirteen Oregon communities successfully competed nationwide for the cash awards and will be hosting a number of activities to promote wildfire awareness and safety. Sisters, Silverton, Sunriver, Roseburg, Ashland (2), Detroit, Dallas, Bend, Glendale, Roseburg (2), Redmond. Projects for Wildfire Preparedness Day can range from a few hours up to an entire day. Find project ideas and learn more about the national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day event on May 4 by visiting www.wildfireprepday.org. May is Wildfire Awareness Month. Keep Oregon Green, the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal, the Office of Emergency Management, and other federal, state and local emergency and response agencies will be promoting programs and messages encouraging the public to work together in their local communities to prevent the risk of wildfire.
