Bend’s New ‘Firewise Community’ Sees Benefits
A community on the north side of Bend has been honored nationally after residents put in more than 700 hours clearing land to create defensible space around their homes.
Rimrock West has been deemed a Firewise Community, becoming only the second one in Bend and the 18th in the state of Oregon.
“Not only making their properties more fire-safe and reducing the fire risk, but making the community more safe,” said T.J. Johannsen, Bend Deputy Fire Marshal T.J. Johannsen said. “I applaud you.”
The Bend Fire Department, BLM and the Oregon Department of Forestry presented the community with an award Wednesday night.
“Our neighbors stepped up,” said Jerry Wein. “We had people 93 years old out raking pine needles and hauling debris.”
The project also has had another side-benefit: It has brought the Rimrock West community together, with 20 to 25 people meeting for four hours several times last year. clearing brush and debris.
“When neighbors get together, and work together, you can’t believe how much it makes a cohesiveness in the neighborhood,” said Harold Brainerd, “I mean, you just feel good about each other, and you feel good about what you did.”
Last year, the neighborhood was approached about the overgrown bushes and trees throughout the community off Archie Briggs Road.
Johannsen met with residents and showed them how to make changes to their property without hurting the rugged, woodsy Central Oregon feel.
“We were able to give them the tools that they needed to make their properties more fire-safe,” said Johannsen.
At Wednesday’s homeowners association meeting, leaders of the community were presented an award for their efforts that help ensure what Central Oregonians have come to know well as “defensible space” around their homes.
“What it takes is this partnership,” said Bend Fire Marshal Gary Marshall. “You help us, so we can fight the fire when it comes into your neighborhood, and we’ll do our best to help you.”
Communities members echoed how this program has brought them together and encouraged other Central Oregon neighborhoods to give it a try.
You can learn more about Firewise Communities at this Website.
