Barbara Cannady for Burns Times-Herald

Burns is one of fifty cities in Oregon named eligible for a $250 defensible space incentive.  As a qualified community, the program recognizes Burns as having one of the highest wildfire exposure risks in the State. Selection for the program was based on a “comprehensive analysis” by the office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM).

This is currently a one-time, limited funding, trial program created by Senate Bill 762 aka Defensible Space Assessment Incentive Reimbursement Pilot Program. Eligible participants must opt-in to receive the $250 incentive payment and receive a defensible space assessment by members of the fire service or OSFM personnel.  Homeowners, renters, and property owners are eligible. The $250 Visa prepaid gift card is intended to encourage the implementation of the recommendations of the assessment to enhance the defensibility of their properties.      

Deputy State Fire Marshall, Randy Fales, was manning a booth in the Big R parking lot last Saturday to help promote the program.  Local fire agency personnel are involved with free defensible space assessments. To qualify for the $250 incentive, participants must have at least two areas of improvement as identified on the OSFM’s defensible space checklist, including but not limited to:

• Removing flammable vegetation directly under eaves or hangs over buildings side.

• Removing leaves, conifer needles, deadwood, bark mulch and other debris from surface around or below decks, fences and within 100 feet of structures or to the property line.

• Trees spaced and pruned to specifications.  Cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems.

• Grass mowed to less than four inches.

• Firewood piles and lumber a least thirty feet from any structure.

• Combustible vegetation at least ten feet from permanent propane tanks.

• Other checklist projects.

To request an assessment, you can call 503-934-0874 and leave a voicemail. Either the Burns Fire Department or one of OSFM’s staff will follow up to schedule the assessment. You can also sign-up for a free Defensible Space Assessment by heading to oregondefensiblespace.org.