July 2019 – by Gayle Lewis, Jacksonville CERT, Gold Terrace Firewise Board Member

Nobody wants to have a wildfire occur in their town, so several Jacksonville neighborhoods have become certified Firewise neighborhoods. Firewise USA is a nationwide program that teaches people how to adapt to wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action now to prevent losses. According to research, the majority of homes ignite as a result of embers or small flames. There are steps that homeowners can take to reduce the risks, with the most important efforts occurring on and immediately around the home.

On the first Saturday in May, Jacksonville held its annual Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. The pick-ups, trailers and vans rolled into the D Street parking lot on May 4th to deliver over thirty loads of green yard debris to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) dumpsters. This day was made possible by Jacksonville’s Firewise Neighborhoods, Jacksonville Fire Department, and Jacksonville CERT to help protect homes from wildfire. ODF offers grants when available to assist Firewise neighborhoods to dispose of biomass generated by yard and property clean-up.

The participating neighborhoods (Gold Terrace, Westmont, Rich Gulch, Hangman, Valley Lane and Vineyard View) each have a Firewise Board consisting of at least three residents. Each Firewise neighborhood surveys its properties and works together to help each other. Residents document the effort and money spent in their neighborhood on clearing and maintaining defensible space by clearing potentially flammable yard and garden debris.

Subscribing to green bin disposal, money spent on professional yard maintenance and hours spent in yard care gives the eligibility to participate in the free clean-up day and to receive individual grants to help with larger projects. Past grants have included large tree pruning and lot clearing. Many of the home insurance companies give a Firewise discount to homes in Firewise neighborhoods. A group of about fifteen to twenty homes is a manageable size but some are larger.

If you are concerned about the threat of wildfire and want to be proactive in organizing your neighbors to become Firewise, there will be two informational meetings: Saturday, August 3, at 10:00am and Wednesday, August 7, at 6:00pm on the New City Hall (Old Courthouse) lawn at 5th and D Streets.

For more information, contact Gayle Lewis, CERT, Gold Terrace Firewise Board member at 541-899-7023.