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Oregon Defensible Space Code-Virtual Town Halls

Town Hall Meetings

Virtual Meetings
Click the links below to join these public meetings. 

9 - 10:30 a.m. - Tuesday, October 4 - Click here to join the meeting
5:30 - 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 5 - Click here to join the meeting
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Thursday, October 6 - Click here to join the meeting

Oregon Defensible Space Code Development Process

Under Senate Bill 762, the OSFM is mandated to adopt statewide minimum defensible space standards. The OSFM is using its current code development and adoption process. Development is underway and additional meetings will be announced here. Agencies, interest groups, and individuals are welcome to provide input during the adoption process. 

The OSFM and stakeholders are following the established code adoption process using the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code model language, using sections 603 and 604 per the Senate Bill 762 mandate. Upon adopting the new Oregon defensible space code, the OSFM will reevaluate every three years and follow the same systematic policies and practices in place for the Oregon Fire Code.

Based on the language in Senate Bill 762, the code will be completed by December 2022. The timeline for when the code will go into effect in late 2023.

Tuesday, October 4th from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM:  https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:meeting_OTViNTllYjItMzY4YS00OTQ5LTk0YTMtZjY1MmJlNDI5YWYw%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22:%22776738eb-4f9b-444f-bc33-4dd4e8e1a9b5%22%2c%22Oid%22:%227a9bebce-0cd3-4728-a2db-ce00ed747bc5%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22:true%7d&btype=a&role=a

 

Wednesday, October 5th from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM:  https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:meeting_M2MxM2Q4NjctYWQ2Yy00NWMxLTgwNjAtNzdjM2Q4NzkyYjFl%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22:%22776738eb-4f9b-444f-bc33-4dd4e8e1a9b5%22%2c%22Oid%22:%227a9bebce-0cd3-4728-a2db-ce00ed747bc5%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22:true%7d&btype=a&role=a

 

Thursday, October 6th from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM:  https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:meeting_ODIwNGVjMjItOGVmNi00YzY1LThiM2YtZGZiODYzNTY3OWJl%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22:%22776738eb-4f9b-444f-bc33-4dd4e8e1a9b5%22%2c%22Oid%22:%227a9bebce-0cd3-4728-a2db-ce00ed747bc5%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22:true%7d&btype=a&role=a

Wildfire Risk Map

The map was withdrawn on August 4, 2022, and an updated version will be released on March 1, 2023. The map was developed by Oregon State University and the Oregon Department of Forestry.

If your home or business is in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) and at high or extreme risk, you may be subject to the defensible space code. Homes and businesses not in the WUI and at high or extreme risk are not subject to the code. 

The OSFM recommends home and business owners at high or extreme risk but not in the WUI follow defensible space best practices. Wildfire does not recognize map boundary lines.

Oregon Defensible Space Code

Based on robust stakeholder feedback from an earlier version of the wildfire risk map, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and other state agencies are revising their timeline for implementing key components of Senate Bill 762, including the wildfire risk map. 

The changes come as Oregon communities work to make their homes and neighborhoods more resilient to the increased risk of wildfire statewide. Read the ODF news release here.

Revised Timeline

October - February 2023: State agencies will engage the public and stakeholders with outreach and education. This includes engaging with and informing Oregonians on safety measures to preserve life and property during wildfires. Agencies will conduct one-on-one outreach to areas most vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires and identify opportunities for investments in wildfire prevention. Completing language for building codes and defensible space codes. The ODF will review appeals received and share feedback received for wildfire risk map adjustments as needed.   

 

March 1, 2023: The ODF will launch a new draft wildfire risk map and solicit stakeholder and public feedback.  

 

March 2023 - September 2023: State agencies will host public outreach, engagement, and education on the draft wildfire risk map. This includes working with the ODF, the OSU College of Forestry, local governments, planning departments, the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), and the Building Codes Division (BCD) to review the draft map. These agencies will outreach to and educate the affected communities and local governments.

 

October 2023 - December 2023: The final wildfire risk map will be shared publicly for implementation, initiating a 60-day appeals process, and notifying those in high-risk areas about the steps needed to protect their homes and properties from catastrophic wildfires and how to meet standards and building codes. The revised plan and timeline will be in collaboration with Oregon State University’s College of Forestry, the OSFM, the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, and the Department of Consumer and Business Services.

 

Research by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety shows simple steps to better protect homes and communities when wildfires occur. Steps include creating defensible space, home hardening, and large-scale fuel reduction projects. Senate Bill 762 directs the state to ensure communities identified in the highest-risk areas are adhering to building code and defensible space code guided by public input, not to be adopted or implemented until the wildfire risk map is finalized in late 2023. 

 

The OSFM will offer funding to support communities in creating defensible space programs and support landowners to complete the work.

Fire-Adapted Organizations and Programs

Many organizations and programs are working to create fire-adapted communities in Oregon: 

Firewise USA® is a national program by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) that provides a collaborative framework to help neighbors get organized, find direction, and take action to protect their homes and communities and reduce wildfire risk locally. To learn more, visit their website and use their interactive map to find a Firewise community near you. 

The Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), created by the Healthy Forests Restoration Act in 2003, helps communities collaborate with federal and state land agencies to achieve common goals and tackle often-controversial issues. Communities with CWPPs have priority for Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management hazardous fuels reduction projects. 

For those in Central Oregon, Project Wildfire is a Deschutes County community organization that facilitates, educates, disseminates, and maximizes community efforts towards effective fire planning and mitigation. Learn more about the seven Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) in Deschutes County, FireFree educational program, and other resources. 

Fire Adapted Oregon is a program created by the OSFM grounded in statewide data, science, defensible space, and the community risk reduction framework. The initiative uses an integrated and strategic investment of resources to reduce fires and their impact on the public.

 

 

State shares revised action plan, timeline for engaging Oregonians in protecting lives, property from wildfire - 09/22/22

SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) today announced a revised action plan and timeline for engaging the public on wildfire protection efforts as part of the state’s strategy to create more fire-resilient communities.

“A big part of our work over the next year is focused on engaging with, listening to and informing the public about wildfire risk,” said Cal Mukumoto, Oregon State Forester and director of ODF. “This engagement will involve visiting communities across the state, talking with people, addressing concerns and answering questions. Ultimately, all of the agencies involved in this effort want to make sure Oregonians in the most at-risk communities know what they can do to better protect themselves, their families and friends, and their homes from wildfire.” 

In the past decade, wildfires have been burning significantly more acres than before, while also becoming more challenging and costlier to fight. Between 2012 and 2021, the state of Oregon spent $85 million annually on wildfire suppression costs. That is compared to the previous 10 years in which the state spent $17 million annually. The scale, devastation and statewide reach of the 2020 Labor Day fires brought this reality home for many. Less than a year later, Senate Bill 762’s statewide framework for advancing wildfire protection in Oregon moved through the Oregon State Legislature with bipartisan support. 

The revised plan will be implemented in collaboration with Oregon State University’s (OSU) College of Forestry, the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS).

“Most Oregonians understand wildfires are becoming more catastrophic and more frequent. I have witnessed, across the state, that Oregonians want to be part of the solution in protecting our communities,” said Doug Grafe, Wildfire Programs Director with the Office of the Governor. “It’s clear that steps can be taken to increase the survivability of homes and communities when wildfires do occur, including creating defensible space, hardening homes and implementing hazardous fuels reduction projects.”

One component of SB 762 was the creation of a statewide wildfire risk map to serve as a planning and information tool for Oregonians, communities and state and local government. The purpose of the map—a collaboration between ODF and wildfire scientists at OSU’s College of Forestry—is to provide transparent and science-based information to Oregonians about the factors near them that drive wildfire exposure including weather, climate, vegetation and topography. The tool will also be used to guide the state in directing resources to communities with the greatest likelihood of wildfires. 

“Oregon State University’s College of Forestry has used, and will continue to use, the best science to contribute to statewide wildfire risk mapping,” said Tom DeLuca, dean of OSU’s College of Forestry. “We support the importance of changing the timeline for the mapping component of SB 762. This added time provides an opportunity to better share information and conduct authentic community engagement by listening to Oregonians and community leaders across our state in the implementation of the new law. Even with the timeline change, we must all recognize that addressing fire risk in Oregon is a priority that will require all of us to work together.”  

Based on feedback and concerns received from an earlier version of the wildfire risk map, the state revised its timeline for implementing the map to allow for robust community engagement, outreach and education. The revised timeline is as follows: 

  • October through February 2023: Public and stakeholder engagement, outreach and education. Includes wildfire science, risk and mitigation outreach and education, with focus on the most vulnerable areas; identifying opportunities for investments in wildfire prevention; completing building codes and defensible space standards for the most vulnerable communities; compilation and analysis of feedback received; and technical refinements.
  • March 1, 2023: Public rollout of draft wildfire risk map. Draft map shared with the public.
  • March through September 2023: Public outreach, engagement and education on draft wildfire risk map. Includes working with ODF, OSU College of Forestry, local governments, planning departments, Department of Land Conservation and Development, Oregon State Fire Marshal and the state Building Codes Division to review the draft map; public outreach, education and engagement on the draft map and related topics including building codes and defensible space standards; and making any necessary revisions based on feedback received on updated map.
  • October through December 2023: Final wildfire risk map shared with the public for implementation. Includes sharing a final wildfire risk map with the public, initiating a 60-day appeals process and notifying those who are in the most high-risk areas about the steps needed to protect their homes and properties from catastrophic wildfires and how to comply with defensible space standards and building codes.

“The revised plan and timeline allow us to prioritize engagement, collaboration and communication,” said Grafe. “We are committed to ensuring people understand what they can do to increase the likelihood their homes and properties will survive wildfires. The wildfire risk map is one of several tools we will use to inform this work.”

SB 762 directs state agencies to focus resources in Oregon’s highest-risk areas to ensure homes are adhering to building codes and defensible space standards. These building codes and defensible space standards will not be adopted or implemented until the wildfire risk map is finalized in late 2023, but will be available in the near future so people can familiarize themselves with the new expectations. 

The DCBS Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) confirmed last month that no Oregon insurance company used the original map to set rates (rating) or as part of a decision to offer or renew insurance coverage (underwriting), and none planned to use it for those purposes in the future. The DFR continues to conduct work to ensure that wildfire mitigation activities are accounted for in underwriting and rating processes. Homeowners are encouraged to contact DFR’s consumer advocates at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) with questions or concerns about their insurance policy.

For more information, visit the following websites: