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The national database of state and local wildfire hazard mitigation programs
serves as a clearinghouse of information about nonfederal policies and
programs that seek to reduce the risk of loss of life and property through
the reduction of hazardous fuels on private lands. If
you would like to submit a program to the national wildfire programs database,
please complete the following form (MS
Word).
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Title: |
Bend, OR -- FireFree Program
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Type: |
Education
Demonstration projects
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Jurisdiction: |
City/town
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State: |
Oregon
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Program Description: |
State Recognized Model Program
FireFree is a model public information program for wildfire prevention which began in Bend, Oregon. Seed money to begin the project was provided by SAFECO Corporation. Firefree is a partnership of the Bend Fire Department, Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2, Bend City Planning and the Deschutes National Forest and Safeco.
Program Elements
The FireFree website contains information concerning fire safety, creating and maintaining defensible space, contact people for the neighborhood programs in the Bend, Oregon area, press releases and a Fire-Resistant Landscape Guide for Oregon. FireFree aims to educate the public about wildfire safety and promote homeowner responsibility in creating defensible space to prevent the recurrence of huge fire losses.
The campaign began in 1997 with a public speakers program to civic organizations, and now includes a video on "The 10 Steps to Creating Defensible Space" which is available at all the local video stores as a free rental. Members of Firefree have each "adopted" a local neighborhood or area, and sponsor events for wildfire education and fuel mitigation in their areas. These activities range from public education to bringing in dumpsters for biodegradable debris, or a sheriff's work crew to provide clearing and pruning around structures. FireFree sponsors three yard clean-up weekends each Spring, with free dumping of yard waste at the local landfills.
The success of the FireFree program has led to it being adopted by the State of Oregon, Division of Forestry as a model public education program.
More discussion of this educational program can be found at: "http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/misc/bend_case_study.pdf".
Contact Information
Starter Kits for creating a FireFree program can be obtained from Sally at the Ralston Group (541)388-2003.
For more information on FireFree, contact Katie Lighthall at (541)322-6396 or, via email, at [email protected].
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