Oregon Fire Marshals stage defensible space demonstration to promote wildfire preparedness

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) - On Wednesday, Oregon State fire marshals Partnered with the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) to conducted a wildfire burn scenario demonstrating the effectiveness of creating defensible space around your home.

“Today’s demonstration makes that reality personal. Seeing the way bark mulch, shrubs and building materials burn helps people connect the dots between small, affordable changes and real protection.” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said.

The demonstration involved model homes constructed just a few feet apart from one another. The house on the left was ignited by fire crews to show how defensible practices can significantly reduce a fire's ability to spread between homes.

In a list provided by the Oregon State Fire Marshals office, the first home featured many elements, commonly found in Oregon residencies, such as:

• Bark mulch in the 0–5-foot zone created easily ignitable fuel right next to the house, allowing embers to quickly start a fire at the foundation. 

• Plants growing against the house provided continuous, flammable material that allowed fire to spread rapidly to the structure. 

• A wood pile stacked against the house acted as a direct ignition source, fueling flames that could easily reach siding and windows. 

• Leaves and debris collected in gutters and on the roof caught embers and ignited, spreading fire along the roofline and into the home. 

• Untreated cedar planks, plastic/vinyl gutters, and open eaves were highly combustible and allowed embers to enter and ignite the home. 

The unprepared space was ignited by fire teams and allowed to burn until the structure completely collapsed. The process took less than an hour, in which the defensible home sustained only minor damage.

The adjacent home, was built to Wildfire Prepared Home Standards set forth by the IBHS and included:

• Cement pavers in place of bark mulch in the 0–5-foot zone eliminated easily ignitable fuel near the home’s foundation, preventing ember-driven fires from taking hold. 

• Plants were spaced away from the house, reducing continuous fuel and slowing fire spread near the structure. 

• Wood piles were kept far away from the house, removing a direct source of ignition that could carry flames to the home. 

• Gutters and roofs were clear of leaves and debris, minimizing places for embers to ignite and spread fire. 

• The home was built with fire-resistive siding, aluminum gutters and vent mesh screens, which prevented embers from igniting the structure and blocked fire entry points. 

To learn more about defensible space, you are encouraged to visit the Oregon State Fire Marshal's website at oregondefensiblespace.org.