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Wildfire Preparedness

The 2015 fire in Northwest Corvallis showed that you don't have to live in the countryside to be affected by wildfire. Keeping a defensible space around your home is important no matter where you live. Check out these resources below:

Fire Resistant Landscaping Tips

Prepared to Prevent Fires at Home

Year-Long Tips for Home and Landscape

You can make your home and its surroundings safer from wildfire by using these tips.

  • Keep your lawn and landscape healthy by mowing regularly, watering and removing any dead or decayed plants.
  • Use fire-resistant plants in your landscape. OSU Extension Service can show you how!
  • Prune trees so the lowest limbs are 6-10 feet from the ground. Remove dead or overhanging branches.
  • Remove leaf clutter and pine needles from gutters, under your deck and around your home.
  • Create a "fire free" area within five feet of your home, using nonflammable landscaping materials and low-growing, high moisture plants around your home.
  • Consider using Class-A asphalt roof shingles, clay tile, or slate roofing materials.
  • Enclose eaves and bird stops to keep out firebrands.
  • Keep firewood piles, propane tanks and other flammable items at least 30 feet away from your home, deck, or porch. 

100 foot defensible space

Albany Fire Department offers free wildfire and home ignition risk assessments to help you understand the unique wildfire risks around your property.

Assessment Request Form

We can provide assessments of properties within the juristictional boundaries of the City of Albany, Palestine Rural Fire Protection District, North Albany Rural Fire Protection, Albany Rural Fire Protection District and any area that Albany Fire provides fire suppression.

When a Wildfire Threatens...

Here are some important tasks you can do when a wildfire is imminent.

  • Be sure gutters, roof, and valleys are clear of leaves and dead branches.
  • Remove combustible materials - lawn furniture, doormats, garden accessories and tarps, etc. from decks and around the house.
  • Close attic, basement, outside & pet doors, vents and windows.
  • Remove flammable drapes from windows; close shutters and blinds.
  • Connect garden hose and fill large containers with water inside and outside.
  • Wet down vegetation within 30 feet of home.
  • Leave doors and windows unlocked; disconnect garage door opener for firefighter access.
  • Shut off natural gas, propane, or fuel oil supplies at the source.
  • Evacuate early with valuable papers.

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