FireFree yard debris recycling events coming up

Fire season is just around the corner and now is the time for Central Oregonians to prepare. Fire science tells us that if you have created and maintained a defensible/survivable space around your home, it has an 80% chance of surviving a wildfire without fire department assistance.

Those are great odds and FireFree urges residents to take that bet, and prepare for the upcoming wildfire season.

There are some simple steps you can take to protect your home and community from wildfire. This spring, partners in the Central Oregon area will host FireFree days. Crook, Deschutes, Klamath and Jefferson counties will all be hosting FireFree events for local residents.

Now is the time to clean up your yards, create defensible spaces around homes and recycle that debris at FireFree collection sites FOR FREE in Crook, Deschutes, Klamath, and Jefferson Counties . Please note there is a NEW Bend Westside Collection Site. Brooks Resources has partnered with Project Wildfire to provide land in the Discovery West area north of Skyliners Road and west of Northwest Crossing. Check the dates below for an event near you!

Saturday & Sunday, April 27-28 and May 4-5 at Box Canyon Transfer Site in Madras.

Saturday, April 27 at Crook County Landfill in Prineville.

Friday & Saturday, May 3-4 at Sunriver Compost Site in Sunriver.

Saturday, May 4 THROUGH Sunday, May 12 at Knott Landfill in Bend.

Saturday & Sunday, May 4-5 and 11-12 at a NEW Westside Collection Site in Bend.

Discovery West/Brooks Resources

Crossing Drive and Skyliners Road, west of Miller Elementary (Crosby Dr.), near the Tree Farm subdivision. From Bend, turn right off of Skyliners, then onto the construction road to the right.

Friday & Saturday, May 17-18 at Deschutes County Transfer Sites:

Negus Transfer Station in Redmond

Northwest (Fryrear) Transfer Station in Sisters

Southwest Transfer Station in La Pine

Friday & Saturday, May 31 – June 1 at Crescent Transfer Station and Chemult Landfill.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I drop off?

· Grass clippings, brush, plant prunings, pine needles, pine cones, weeds, trimmings and branches, stumps or trees (no larger than 12″ in diameter).

· Sod and clean dirt (separate from yard debris).

· NOT Accepted: rocks, lumber, metal, trash or plastics of any kind, including plastic bags.

Where are the most vulnerable places for glowing embers to ignite my home?

· Gutters and roof valleys with debris like pine needles and leaves. Clean them out. Despite a metal or asphalt shingle roof, the buildup of gutter debris provides necessary fuel for the glowing embers to ignite adjacent fascia boards or siding – most often made of wood.

· Shrubs and weeds that provide a path of fuel for fire to reach your trees or home. Reduce shrubs and other “ladder fuels” around your home to reduce the threat of ground fires igniting nearby trees, or your home.

· Flammable materials near a deck, patio or fence. Remove weeds, shrubs or any combustible materials from around, under or on top of your deck, patio or wood fence. This includes toys, planters, construction materials, patio furniture and cushions along with even small piles of pine needles or leaves.

· Bark mulch, pine needles, ornamental junipers or flammable vegetation within 5 feet of your home. This can provide the perfect ember bed that provides necessary fuel for the glowing embers to ignite the adjacent siding – most often made of wood.

· Woodpiles near your home or other combustible vegetation. Move woodpiles at least 30 feet away from your home or other combustibles.

Visit the FireFree website at www.firefree.org for more information about how you can prepare your property for wildfire season.

Accommodation Information for People with Disabilities

To obtain this information in an alternate format such as Braille, large print, electronic formats, etc. please contact Jodie Barram at 541-322-7129.