Aerial photo of the remains of Bear Lake Estates in Phoenix, Oregon, Friday, September 11, 2020. Dave Killen / Staff

Mary Kwart has faced wildfires and knows their power. The retired forest firefighter has an evacuation plan to prevent the fire from spreading from the street to her Ashland home, but she will not retreat without a fight.

Her fire protection projects range from a few thousand dollars to nothing except her time and energy.

"There is no panacea," she said on Saturday, standing in front of a new steel fence that replaced the wooden fence that separated her property from that of neighbors. "I don't know what kind of precautions can save my house, so I do my best."

Fire experts prefer these high-moisture plants

The following is a suggestion from Bonnie Bruce, owner of Portland landscape design studio Cellilo Gardens, who has taught fire protection courses.

The forecast of dry and hot summers has heightened concerns about another devastating wildfire season, leading many people to focus on fighting fires to reduce the vulnerability of their families and communities.

Portland General Electric and other power suppliers are preparing for a preemptive blackout during the 2021 wildfire season, which begins on May 15th, and parts of the state most affected by the drought will begin on May 15.

Oregon prepares for wildfires in 2021 and adopts rules for pre-blackout of utilities

The Oregon Public Utilities Commission has passed interim rules governing pre-emptive blackouts that electricity suppliers can enact to prevent wildfires, as well as new requirements for faster and more detailed reporting to state regulators when utility equipment is affected or affected by a fire.

Last year's wildfires in Oregon destroyed nearly 1 million acres, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and killed 9 people.

Oregon State University’s fire promotion expert Amanda Rau said in a Wildfire Wednesday webinar recorded on March 31 that the extraordinary fire affected most Oregonians, from those who lost everything to being forced to breathe. People in smoky air.

Kara Baylog of Oregon State University's School of Forestry explained in a webinar that in wildfires, more than 90% of homes are destroyed by embers, which can travel a mile or more with the wind.

Baylog says that when embers accumulate through gaps in the home or ignite leaves and debris collected on rain gutters and roofs, their numbers increase.

On Saturday, outside the Kwart cabin built in 1950, workers were refurbishing HardiePlank fiber cement siding panels that replaced old, combustible cedar boards and slats on the exterior walls.

Kwart also used 1/8-inch metal screens to close the eaves and openings on the exterior wall to keep out embers. The metal cover prevents the leaves and pine needles from moving away from the rain gutter, which may dry out and become fuel for the fire.

Other small but strategic improvements include the removal of wooden garden borders and the placement of corrugated steel landscape edge strips.

Her next job: Remove bark mulch, dried leaves and other combustible garden waste from her yard.

Fire preparations start with an escape plan and prepare luggage for family and pets

When you are escaping from a fire, it is difficult to think clearly. This makes it vital that you have a duffel bag or backpack full of essentials when you go out.

In the future, Kwart may add steel exterior shutters. She can pull down the windows to prevent the heat from an external fire from breaking the glass, "it's like putting boiling water into frozen glass," Baylog explained.

"Steel shutters, removal of vegetation to reduce close contact with the flame, and the use of double or triple glazing can alleviate this situation," Belog said.

Kwart's experience taught her that the building may survive the fire through the area, but then it will be burned down by an on-site fire that could have been extinguished.

"The impact of the fire is expanding, and it will not go away," said Kwart, who spent five weeks in her 30-year career fighting the Yellowstone Fire of 1988 and other historic fires. "We have passed the point of relying on heroes to save us. We need to be heroes for ourselves and our community."

Mary Kwart, a retired forest firefighter, stands in front of a new steel fence that replaces the wooden fence that separates her Ashland property from that of neighbors. Janet Eastman/Oregonian

Experts agree that the right actions can help you and your family stay safe and protect your property, and possibly your neighbors’ property from damage.

Oregon’s defensive space law requires landowners to reduce excess vegetation around buildings. According to fire risk, some areas also need to refuel along property lines and roadsides.

According to Oregon's Woodland City Interface Fire Protection Act, a landowner who neglects to cause a fire near a woodland can be fined as much as $100,000. The City of Portland can pass on the full cost of fire control and cleaning up to those responsible.

Portland Fire & Rescue has a home safety checklist, including removing debris and other unnecessary combustibles, and ensuring that electrical and heating equipment are in good working order and will not overheat.

Smoke alarms are necessary, but fire experts also recommend that people be equipped with fire extinguishers and escape plans.

The California Forestry and Fire Department (Cal Fire) released renderings of the defensive space created around the house. California Forestry and Fire Department

The Fire Safety House is a converted residence in Silverton Oregon Gardens. Visitors can wander around what fire educators call "life-size teaching tools" to see how to buy time before firefighters arrive.

The landscaping shows how to keep the land lean, clean and green in the following ways:

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) lists a series of factors that need to be considered when designing and installing a fire-resistant landscape, such as the area’s fire history, prevailing winds, and irrigation requirements.

No plants are fireproof, but many plants are more difficult to ignite. OSU Extension has a free downloadable guide, "Fire-resistant Landscape Plants in Willamette Valley", which recommends ground cover, perennials, shrubs and trees.

For trips to garden centers or nurseries, OSU Extension has a fire-resistant plant app for Android and Apple devices.

A simple test: highly flammable plants have sticky sap and leaves that emit a strong smell when crushed. Don't grow plants that are high in oils, fragrances, or resins, and don't grow plants that produce small, dry or dead leaves or needles.

According to forestry experts in the state, old trees are more resistant to damage caused by wildfires. If trimmed, they can act as living walls, reducing the intense heat of the fire and blocking embers in the air.

To prevent the spread and spread of ground fires, please remove branches that hang above the house and are less than 6 feet above the ground. It is also necessary to reduce other "ladder fuels", that is, plants that serve as the link between grass and treetops.

If you do not have the right equipment, the tool library allows you to borrow the equipment you need.

Fire hazards can be as weird as wooden fences.

The Oregon Department of Forestry told homeowners who insist on using all-wood fences to use masonry or metal as a protective barrier between the fence and the house.

The agency recommends that the wooden deck should not be located at the top of the slope, otherwise it may be in the direct line of the fire, the fire will burn hotter, and the speed of uphill will be faster.

The deck should be made of fire-resistant wood, and no items that could catch fire should be stored under it. Wire mesh no more than 1/8 inch can prevent dry leaves from gathering and embers from under the deck to cause a fire.

Firewood and propane tanks should be stored away from any structure.

Experts also recommend that you install fire belts on driveways, gravel roads, and green lawns, and make sure that your address number is clearly visible to emergency responders trying to find you.

The goal is to reduce the risk by maintaining a defensible space that does not contribute to the fire.

“Finally, remember that no one is an island. Your landscape is as important as your neighbor’s landscape and maintenance in order to be fireproof,” said Bonnie Bruce, owner of Portland landscape design studio Cellilo Gardens.

Bruce, a certified master gardener and member of the Oregon Association of Professional Landscape Architects, told people who attended her face-to-face or conference call fire prevention courses that it is not fun to clean the yard or walk through the thorns of flammable blackberries.

"But organizing a community work group to complete this work changed all that," she said. "Reaching out a helping hand eases the burden on everyone. It builds communities and builds friendships, all of which become vital in emergencies."

More information about fire protection can be found on the Oregon Department of Forestry YouTube channel and website:

There is no guarantee that you will receive a warning before you have to evacuate due to a fire or other life-threatening emergency.

Sign up for notification: Sign up for a public alert, citizen alert, or a service in your county so that when you need to take action (such as shelter in place or evacuation), the emergency response agency will notify you via text message, phone call, or email.

Make an escape plan: make sure everyone in your home knows how to leave the building safely, where everyone will reunite, and how to contact each other if the phone is not working properly.

Prepare a travel bag: Put a small bag and first aid kit and other necessities together so that you can grab it when you run away.

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