As the 2026 wildfire season gradually begins its seasonal wind-down — even as dozens of fires still burn across the Pacific Northwest — fire preparedness experts are urging residents to use this period to take stock of their home's defensible space and ember resistance. With Oregon's 2.3 million acres burned and thousands of structures lost or damaged across Washington and Oregon this season, the lessons of 2026 are sobering: fire can move faster than evacuation, and homes that are not prepared often cannot be saved.

Defensible Space: The Foundation of Home Survival

Fire agencies and researchers consistently identify defensible space — the buffer zone between a home and the surrounding vegetation — as the single most important factor in determining whether a structure survives a wildland fire. Creating and maintaining defensible space doesn't just protect the home; it also gives firefighters a safer location from which to defend the structure if resources are available.

Zone 1 (0–30 feet from the home) should be lean, clean, and green:

  • Remove dead plants, grass, weeds, and leaves from around the home
  • Move firewood piles at least 30 feet from structures
  • Trim tree branches to at least 10 feet above the ground
  • Space plants and shrubs to reduce fire's ability to travel from plant to plant
  • Remove vines from exterior walls

Zone 2 (30–100 feet from the home) should reduce fuel density:

  • Cut or mow annual grasses to a maximum of 4 inches
  • Remove dead plant material and prune shrubs
  • Space trees at least 10 feet apart crown-to-crown
  • Remove ladder fuels (lower branches that allow fire to climb into tree canopy)

Ember-Proofing Your Home

Research from CalFire and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety shows that most homes ignite during wildfires not from direct flame contact but from embers — firebrands that can travel miles ahead of the fire front and land in vulnerable spots. Ember-proofing focuses on eliminating ignition sites:

  • Vents: Install 1/16-inch metal mesh screens on all vents, including roof, eave, soffit, and foundation vents
  • Roof and gutters: Install non-combustible roofing; clean gutters regularly of accumulated debris
  • Deck and patio: Use non-combustible or ignition-resistant decking materials; clear debris from under decks
  • Windows: Consider dual-pane or tempered glass windows; close windows and doors during a fire event
  • Garage: Keep garage doors closed when fire is in the area; seal gaps around doors

Emergency Planning: What to Do Before You Have To

The most dangerous moment in a wildfire emergency is making decisions under panic and time pressure. Families with a plan act faster and more effectively when evacuation is ordered:

  • Know your evacuation zone: Look up your address on your county's emergency management map. Know what Level 1, 2, and 3 mean and what your trigger to leave will be.
  • Prepare a go-bag: Include medications, important documents (copies), clothing for several days, phone chargers, cash, and pet supplies
  • Keep vehicles fueled: A car with less than a half-tank of gas during an evacuation is a serious risk
  • Sign up for alerts: Register for your county's emergency alert system (Wireless Emergency Alerts, Nixle, or your local system)
  • Plan multiple routes: Know at least two ways out of your neighborhood — fire can block roads without warning

Resources for PNW Homeowners

Residents can access free defensible space guidance and home hardening information from:

  • Oregon State Fire Marshal: oregon.gov/osfm — defensible space guides and home assessment resources
  • Washington State Fire Marshal: app.leg.wa.gov — WUI fire safety resources
  • NFPA Firewise USA: nfpa.org/firewise — community and individual preparedness programs
  • ReadyForWildfire.org: Step-by-step home hardening and defensible space resources
  • Oregon Department of Forestry: oregon.gov/odf — fire preparedness information

The 2026 season has been devastating, but it has also demonstrated clearly what is at stake. Taking preparedness steps now — before the next fire season begins — is the most effective action PNW homeowners can take to protect their families and properties.