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With Oregon’s wildfire season on the horizon, fire officials urge homeowners to create defensible space

Remains of the devastation from the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire are still evident in the small town of Gates, Ore., Feb. 26, 2021.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff
/
OPB
Remains of the devastation from the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire are still evident in the small town of Gates, Ore., Feb. 26, 2021.

Now that it’s May, wildfire season is just around the corner in much of Oregon. State fire officials say it’s a good time of year to take steps to reduce the chance of fires affecting your home.

That can include clearing roofs and gutters of dead leaves and other debris, moving flammable material away from exterior walls, and reducing vegetation from underneath trees to help keep the fire from spreading into the upper branches.

“If we can control what happens right around our home, right in our home ignition zone, it can really increase the chance of our home surviving a wildfire,” said Alison Green with the Oregon Fire Marshal’s office.

Fire officials also encourage people living in fire-prone areas to consider growingfire-resistant plants around their homes.

Copyright 2022 KLCC

Chris Lehman has been reporting on Oregon issues since 2006. He joined the KLCC news department in December, 2018. Chris was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. His public broadcasting career includes stops in Louisiana and Illinois. Chris has filed for national programs including “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”