September is National Preparedness Month, and this year’s theme from FEMA — “Americans Stand Ready” — lands with particular weight in the Pacific Northwest. After a season in which more than 2.5 million acres burned in Oregon alone, and Washington saw several fires reach historically unprecedented sizes, fire preparedness is no longer abstract for many Northwest families — it’s a matter of survival.

The National Interagency Fire Center notes directly: “On the tail end of a very busy summer during which many Americans were evacuated or otherwise at risk as wildfires burned nearby, this is a great time to consider how you and your community can be ready for future emergencies.”

Know Your Evacuation Zone

Oregon, Washington, and Idaho all use a tiered evacuation level system. Understanding which level applies to your property — and what each level requires of you — is the first step in wildfire preparedness:

  • Level 1 (Ready): Be aware of the danger in your area. Prepare to leave if the situation worsens. Review your emergency plan.
  • Level 2 (Set): Be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Evacuation may be needed quickly. Load your car with go-kits. Vulnerable household members and pets should leave now.
  • Level 3 (Go): Leave immediately. Do not wait. Risk to life is imminent. Do not return until authorities say it is safe.

Check your county’s emergency management website to identify your evacuation zone. Many counties in Oregon and Washington now have interactive online maps.

Build Your Go-Kit

Fire can move faster than you can pack. A pre-assembled go-kit means you can leave in minutes when an evacuation order arrives. Your kit should include:

  • Important documents (IDs, insurance, deeds) in a waterproof bag or backed up digitally
  • Medications for at least two weeks
  • Water (one gallon per person per day for three days minimum)
  • Food, phone chargers, and a battery radio
  • Cash in small bills
  • Clothing and sturdy shoes
  • Supplies for children, pets, and anyone with special medical needs

Defensible Space: Your Home’s First Line of Defense

Defensible space is the buffer between your home and the surrounding vegetation. Oregon, Washington, and Idaho all have defensible space laws for properties in or adjacent to wildlands. Key steps:

  • Zone 1 (0–30 feet): Remove dead plants, dry leaves, and fallen needles. Keep grass mowed short. Space plants and trees to slow fire spread. Remove any wood piles, propane tanks, or other flammable materials from this zone.
  • Zone 2 (30–100 feet): Cut or mow annual grasses to a maximum of 4 inches. Reduce the density of shrubs. Create horizontal spacing between plants and vertical spacing between ground cover and trees.

Sign Up for Emergency Alerts

The most critical step Pacific Northwest residents can take right now is ensuring they are enrolled in their county’s emergency alert system. Evacuation orders and warnings during rapidly moving wildfire events may come with very little advance notice — sometimes under an hour.

  • Oregon: OregonAlerts.org or your county’s emergency management website
  • Washington: AlertSense system through your county
  • Idaho: ReadyIdaho.org

Resources

As the 2026 season winds toward its conclusion, fire managers stress that the window between fire seasons is when preparedness work is most effective. Don’t wait for next year’s red skies to act.