Rogue Valley Fire Prevention

Fire Prevention: Homes In The Wildland Urban Interface

Fire is a natural element in forest ecosystems.  “The forests of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, even the wet forests of the coast, have been shaped largely by fire.  Fire-dependent ecosystems and plant communities depend on periodic fires to maintain their structure and function.”*  

Today, more people are taking up residence in the forests and rangelands—and thus becoming part of the wildland urban interface—where the urban environment meets the wild.  “Residents living in wildland/urban interface areas should learn to view wildfire as a natural phenomena that can devastate property and life—and prepare accordingly.”

There are many precautions you can take to help keep yourself and your home safe in the wildland urban interface.  This section covers a variety of topics meant to assist you in actively protecting your home from damage during wildfires.  The topics range from defensible space around your home, to state- and county-wide wildland urban interface regulations, to suggestions on landscaping with fire resistant plants.  Many pages contain links to other sites containing useful information on home safety in the wildland urban interface.

*from Protecting Homes In The WUI; Fire In Oregon's Forests

Photos: (top) Andrea Booher (bottom) Ian Keusink