2004-1190-Minutes for Meeting August 30,2004 Recorded 9/14/2004COUNTY OFFICIAL RECO
TES
NANCYUBLANKENSHIP, COUNTY CLERKS CJ 2004.1190
COMMISSIONERS' JOURNAL 09/14/2004 03;49;55 PM
11111111111111111111111111 IN III
004-1100
DESCHUTES COUNTY CLERK
CERTIFICATE PAGE
This page must be included
if document is re-recorded.
Do Not remove from original document.
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
1300 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701-1947
(541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org
MINUTES OF ADMINISTRATIVE LIAISON
DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2004
Commissioners' Conference Room - Administration Building - 1300 NW Wall St.., Bend
Present were Commissioners Michael M. Daly, Tom De Wolf and Dennis R. Luke.
Also present for a portion of the meeting were Anna Johnson and Susan Ross,
Commissioners' Office; Joe Studer, Forestry Specialist; Robert Young, Stu Otto
and Tom Andrade of the Oregon Department of Forestry; and media
representative Chris Barker of the Bulletin. No other citizens were present.
The meeting began at 1: 30 p. m.
1. Discussion of Implementation of Senate Bill 360.
Robert Young gave an overview of Senate Bill 360 — the Forestland -Urban
Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997, and provided a copy of a handout that is
being distributed to property owners affected by the Bill. (A copy is attached as
Exhibit A.) A pilot project has been put in place, which is being applied in
Deschutes County as well as Jackson County, where the fire season is similar to
that of Deschutes County.
Several public meetings have been held, and they were well attended. The
attendees were for the most part supportive, and it is believed that their
concerns were satisfactorily addressed.
One of the biggest remaining problems is the overgrown vacant lots; these are
not addressed by Senate Bill 360. Commissioner Luke asked if any grant funds
are available to take care of the vacant lots owned by the County. Joe Studer
said that fire plan money may be available to clean up the County -owned lots;
this would be administered by the State. The application for these funds would
need to be submitted prior to September 17. The funds would then be awarded
in the spring.
Minutes of Administrative Liaison Monday, August 30, 2004
Page 1 of 3 Pages
There are additional grant opportunities coming up in November, but those
funds would not be distributed until October 2005.
Commissioner Luke stated that the Heart of Oregon Corps. does a good job
with thinning the properties, but if it is to be done on a large scale it should be
opened up to others, if possible.
2. Project Update.
Susan Ross advised that over the weekend someone hot-wired a dump truck at
the Crisis Resolution Center project site and ran it into the building. This
resulted in about $3,000 damage. The contractor, P & P Construction, is
responsible for the security of their equipment.
The Courthouse remodeling process caused some diesel fuel fumes to go into
the building's air conditioning system, resulting in staff complaints. This
portion of the work is completed and it shouldn't be a problem in the future.
The work is very noisy, which was to be expected, but thus far the judges and
others have not complained. The project itself is ahead of schedule, which
could be offset if there is bad weather this winter.
The Family Resource Center has just moved into the old administration
building, and the Commissioner on Children & Families has settled in. Minor
remodeling of the Risk Management area is underway, as is some remodeling
of the area to be used by the Mental Health senior program.
3. Other Items.
Commissioner DeWolf asked if bills allowing the Treasurer and Assessor to be
appointed rather than elected will be addressed in the next legislative session.
He also asked if the issue allowing a Justice Court to be placed within city
limits, and allowing residents of Bend to apply for the Justice of the Peace
position, will also be addressed. Commissioner Luke said that he would follow
up on these items.
Commissioner DeWolf suggested that the Board meet sometime in October
with Representatives Whisnant and Knopp, Senator Westlund, and candidates
for Representative Stiegler and Burley, and possibly lobbyist Bill Linden,
regarding issues to be addressed in the next legislative session.
Minutes of Administrative Liaison Monday, August 30, 2004
Page 2 of 3 Pages
After a brief discussion, it was determined that the building grand opening
should be held on November 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. All three Commissioners
should be available at that time, and it is hoped all of the building artwork will
be in place.
An Oregon Liquor Control license application for the Homestead Tavern in La
Pine was presented for approval, since the next formal Board meeting won't
occur until September 8.
LUKE: Move approval.
DALY: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Yes.
DALY: Chair votes yes.
(Commissioner De Wolf had already left the room.)
Being no further items addressed, the meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m.
DATED this 30th Day of August 2004 for the Deschutes County Board of
Commissioners.
ATTEST:
!&Z(Lc,Ux—L UUA-
Recording Secretary
Tom DeWolf, Co oner
Minutes of Administrative Liaison Monday, August 30, 2004
Page 3 of 3 Pages
iregon
Theodore R. Kulongoski, Governor
Department of Forestry
Central Oregon District
Sisters Sub -Unit
PO Box 190
Sisters, OR 97759
Phone: (541) 549-6761
FAX: (541) 549-9422
Briefing; Deschutes County Commissioners .03 om -
Forestland -Urban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997 (SB -360)
Deschutes County Implementation
'STEWARDSHIP IN FORESTRY
• Deschutes County is one of two counties in Oregon implementing the new interface
regulations, Jackson County is the other county.
• The law applies to lands that are protected by ODF and are classified as Forestland -
Urban by the Deschutes County Classification Committee which was chaired by. Don
Webber, Deschutes County Emergency Services Coordinator.
• The Classification Committee met 14 times to classify all affected Deschutes County
lands into three designations; "high", "extreme", and "high density extreme".
• There are about 32,000 tax lots affected by the law involving 62,000 acres of land.
• Deschutes County GIS program manager, Bob Haas, worked closely with us and
produced working maps and final classification maps along with all address
information to initially contact landowners affected by the law.
• We have held three public meetings (LaPine, Bend, and Sisters) and two Hearings
(both in Bend) to inform and take testimony from Deschutes County landowners prior
to filing the "finding of fact" and classification "order" with the Deschutes County
Clerk. The order was filed on August 24th , 2004. (Jeff Sageser of the Clerks Office
was extremely helpful during this process).
• To assist landowners make decisions about their land, the law offers certified
assessors, we have conducted one assessor training class, and will offer two more in
the next few weeks.
• Final Certification Packages are scheduled to mailed to landowners beginning the
second week of September. The package will consist of the "guide" and certification
card, examples are contained with your briefing information.
• We will be providing briefing packages and extra certification cards to each fire
department, BLM and Forest Service Office prior to batch mailing to landowners.
• ODF has a dedicated telephone number for landowners and cooperators to call for
information or to answer questions. (541) 549-6761.
Exhibit
Page /_ of 23ff
Deschutes County Commissioners
• In general, the public has been responsive and supportive, most inquires involve
what needs to be done and/or clarification of standards.
As it turns out Deschutes County is the first county in the state to begin the
Forestland -Urban Interface certification process, we are breaking new ground, but it
is not without help from our friends, many Deschutes County employees have
contributed to our collective success.
• Thank you.
Exhibit__
Page _ of
Oregon Department of Forestry
Central Oregon District
0
PO Box 190
Sisters OR 97759-9910 4
Dear Property Owner,
Your property has been included in a forestland -urban interface area and has been assigned a fire -risk classification, in ac-
cordance with the Oregon Forestland -Urban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997. This means that your property is one
of more than 30,000 in Deschutes County that is located in an area where destructive wildfires are likely to occur.
It is hoped that compliance with this act will make an environment in which destructive wildfires are less common, and
which is safer for firefighters and residents in the event a wildfire does occur.
To comply with the act, and to improve the chance that structures on your property will survive a wildfire, you are asked to
take fuel -reduction measures on your property. The publication accompanying this letter explains the fuel -reduction mea-
sures required by the act. Once the fuel -reduction measures are complete, you may fill out, sign and return the attached
self -certification card to the Oregon Department of Forestry.
You have two years after receiving this letter to return the certification card. After that period of time, the owner of a
property that is not certified may be billed for certain fire suppression costs if a wildfire occurs on the property.
Property certification is valid for five years from the date the certification card is received by the Department of Forestry.
Re -certification is necessary every five years, or when a property is sold to another party, or when a structure is added to
the property.
If you have questions or concerns about the Oregon Forestland -Urban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997, the materials
you have received, or your obligations under this act, please call the Oregon Department of Forestry at (541) 549-6761, or
visit ODF's World Wide Web site at wwwodfstate.or.us.
Sincerely,
G
Robert Young, District Forester
If you have any questions regarding this document or its contents, please contact the
Oregon Department of Forestry's Central Oregon District at (541) 549-6761.
Exhibit
Page 3 of 5e
Evaluation Form
Use this checklist to evaluate what you may need to do to comply with
the Oregon Forestland -Urban Interface Fire Protection Act's standards.
Within 30-50 feet of the house, evaluate what you may need to do to
create a primary fuel break:
❑Is the area substantially composed of nonflammable ground cover? If not, tall grass
will need to be cut, and needles and leaves raked and removed.
F]Are trees and shrubs green and healthy? If not, remove dead branches, and dead or
dying trees and shrubs.
Are the lowest branches of trees directly above shrubs or tall, dry grass? If so, these
❑lower branches must be pruned, or the vegetation beneath them trimmed or re-
moved, or the grass trimmed to a height no greater than four inches.
❑Are trees and shrubs growing in large, continuous thickets? If so, consider thinning
some of them; it is recommended that you consult a forester before cutting trees.
❑Is your roof covered with flammable material, such as cedar shakes? If so, a secondary
fuel break needs to extend beyond the primary fuel break an additional 20-70 feet.
Other considerations:
F]Is your driveway longer than 150 feet? If so, brush needs to be cleared 10 feet from
both sides of the centerline, and overhead branches must be removed to 13' 6".
❑Are any tree branches within 10 feet of a chimney that vents a wood -burning fireplace
or stove? If so, the branches will have to be removed.
❑Do any dead branches hang over the roof? If so, the dead branches will have to be
removed.
❑Are lumber piles or firewood piles stored under wooden decks or -stairways? If so, the
firewood and lumber will have to be removed.
aIs there an accumulation of tree needles, leaves and other fine, woody debris under
wooden decks or stairways? If so, this debris will have to be raked and removed.
❑Is a pile of firewood next to the house? If so, by the time fire season starts, the fire-
wood pile will need to be fully enclosed, or moved at least 20 feet from the house.
Are there vents in attic, soffits and foundation? Are there openings to the undersides
aof wooden decks and stairways? If so, these openings need to be covered with 1/4"
metal screen, or other nonflammable material.
Are there spark arresters in the chimneys and vents of all wood -burning devices, such
❑as fireplaces, wood stoves, barbecues and incinerators? Is there a safe disposal site for
ashes and charcoal? If not, screens must be installed and a disposal site created.
❑Do the gutters contain dry leaves, needles and other fine woody debris? If so, these
need to be cleaned, and fitted with screens or covers to keep debris out.
Exhibit 1-7
Page of
Oregon Forestland-Urian
Interface Fire Protection Act
Property Evaluation �
Sclf-Ccrtification Guice
dor Deschutes County
11
This publication is produced by
the Oregon Department of Forestry
for the purpose of aiding people who
own property within aforestland-
urban interface area in Deschutes
County. The information within this
document is intended to help a prop-
erty owner evaluate a property and
structure's vulnerability to damage or
destruction by wildfire, and choose
measures which will make a property
compliant with the standards of the
Oregon Forestland -Urban Interface
Fire Protection Act of 1997. Once
a property complies with the act's
standards, a property owner may
certify that his or her property is in
compliance by responding with the
certification form that accompanied
this guidebook.
If you have questions, or need
assistance, please call the Oregon
Department of Forestry at (541) 549-
6761, or write:
Fire Protection Act
Oregon Dept. of Forestry
P.O. Box 190
Sisters, OR 97759
Information is also available
online at: www.odfstate.or.us
AUGUST 2004
Contents
Evaluate your property ..................................... 4
The fuel -reduction standards .............................. 6
Defaultstandards ............................................
7
Primary fuel break ...................................
8
Secondary fuel break ................................ 9
Ladder fuels..........................................10
Pruningtips...........................................11
Thinning basics......................................12
Fundamentals of fire................................13
Driveway fuel break.................................14
Roof and chimney clearance .......................15
Under -deck flammables ............................16
Firewood pile location..............................17
Roadside and property line fuel breaks ..........18
Optional standards..........................................19
Required fuel breaks................................19
Secondary fuel break option.......................19
Wildfire safe access option ........................19
Fire-resistant structures option ...................20
Low ignition risk property option .................21
Alternate standards........................................22
Questions and answers.....................................23
World Wide Web resources................................24
Administrative rules........................................25
The Oregon Forestland -Urban
Inte4ace Fire Protection Act
n 1997, the Oregon Legislature passed the Oregon Forestland -Urban
Interface Fire Protection Act. The law responded to several escalat-
ing problems: wildfires burning homes, firefighters risking their lives in
conflagrations, and the rising cost of fire suppression.
The act provides four important steps that lead toward an effective
protection system by establishing legislative policy regarding forestland -
urban interface fire protection; defining forestland -urban interface areas
in Oregon, and establishing a process and system for classifying fire risk in
these areas; establishing standards for forestland -urban interface property
owners so they can manage or minimize fire hazards and risks; and provid-
mg,the means for establishing adequate, integrated fire protection systems
iri'forestland urban' -interface areas, including education and prevention
;ef forts.
Exhibit
Page —1 of ,6
Fuel breaks
around structures
Research has shown that fuel
reduction around a structure can
significantly increase the structure's
chance of surviving a wildfire.
Fuel, to a wildfire, is anything
that can burn — needles, leaves, dry
grass, firewood, cedar shake roof-
ing, wood siding, wooden decking
Fuel reduction means to lessen the
amount of fuel available to a fire, to
increase the distance between fuels,
and to insulate fuels so fire can't get
to them.
In another way, fuel reduction
does not mean cutting down all
trees and shrubs around a structure,
or creating a bare -earth ring around
a home. It does mean to arrange
trees, shrubs and other fuel sources
in a way that makes it difficult for fire
to transfer from fuel source to fuel
source.
For example, a continuous car-
pet of ponderosa pine needles is a
source of fuel for a fire. If this carpet
of pine needles leads, unbroken,
from the yard to the underside of
a wooden deck, the needles act like
a fuse to dynamite. If the wooden
deck catches fire, the entire house
is jeopardized. However, by raking
foot -wide fuel breaks through the
carpet of needles, and removing
burnable debris from beneath the
deck, the fire -transmission problem is
dramatically reduced. The fuels have
either been dispersed or eliminated.
Fuel reduction in regard to trees
and other plants means to favor
plants that are fire-resistant, and to
reduce — and isolate — plants that
are more vulnerable to fire.
When evaluating the area
around structures on your property,
focus on the first 30-50 feet from the
structure's outside walls and think
4
like a fire (see page 13). What will
burn easily and spread fire rapidly?
Is the ground cover around the
structure green, well -watered lawn?
Or is it tall, dry grass? If it is green
lawn, it is fire resistant (especially
when frequently watered). If it is dry
grass, it will ignite easily and carry
fire rapidly.
Are the trees fire-resistant spe-
cies, or are they fire -vulnerable? Pon-
derosa pine, Douglas -fir and quaking
aspen are three fire-resistant species.
Western juniper, on the other hand,
is fire -vulnerable. In general, favor
trees that are
mature and in
good health.
Consider remov-
ing trees that
are suppressed
or damaged, or
that can act like
a ladder for fire
— transferring
ground fire to the
crowns of taller
trees (see page
10). Remember
and create intense flames quickly.
When evaluating trees and
shrubs around a structure, take into
account the plants' species, health
and size. Also, imagine how fire
would behave if it were in the yard.
Ask yourself:
• will thinning (not eliminating)
the trees around the structure
help to keep fire from transfer-
ring to other trees?
• will thinning shrubs from
beneath trees help to keep fire
from climbing into the crowns
of trees? Or will removing the
lower branches of trees accom-
plish this better?
• are there fire -vulnerable plants
next to the house?
One helpful resource about
selecting native, fire-resistant
landscaping ptants is this brochure.
To get a copy, write, visit or call:
Deschutes County
Extension Service
Oregon State University
3893 SW Airport Way
Redmond, OR 97756-8697
Phone: (541) 548-6088
to consider the role a tree may play
if fire threatens your property. If the
tree is large, healthy and green, it
can shield a structure from intense
radiant heat and airborne embers.
Strongly consider retaining such
trees, but help them by removing fuel
sources that may transmit flames to
their branches and crowns.
Shrubs can help protect taller
trees and structures if the plants are
fire-resistant, kept in a healthy condi-
tion, and are well -watered. Examples
of fire-resistant shrubs are Pacific
rhododendron, Oregon boxwood
and mockorange. Shrubs that are
more fire -friendly include bitter -
brush, manzanita and ceanothus.
Also, ornamental junipers are haz-
ardous because they catch fire easily
The roof
A home's rooftop is a large land-
ing zone for airborne embers and
glowing ash — even surprisingly
large chunks of cone and slabs of
bark — propelled aloft by a nearby
wildfire. Accumulations of dry
needles, leaves and twigs on a roof
can be easily ignited on a summer
day. Finding and eliminating rooftop
fuels is a big step toward protecting a
home against wildfire damage.
Gutters are excellent catch -
basins for tree needles and leaves
— which, when dried in a few hours
of sun, are easily ignitable. Once a
gutter fire gets started, the flames can
get beneath roofing material — even
Exhibit VA
Page 1; of
nonflammable roofing — and ignite
plywood sheathing, tar paper, or the
ends of wooden stringers that sup-
port tile and slate.
Are there hidden accumulations
of dry needles and leaves on the
roof? Look in downwind collection
points. As wind travels around and
over a house, it wraps around roof-
tops, chimneys and walls. It eddies in
sheltered areas and drops whatever it
has been carrying. Find these wind-
borne fuel deposits and clear away
potentially flammable debris — be-
cause the next summer wind could
bring hot embers, and the wind will
drop them in exactly the same place.
Open attic and soffit vents
should be covered so burning debris
can't get in. During a wildfire, a bliz-
zard of glowing embers can be un-
leashed. It doesn't take long before a
quantity of this hot stuff finds it way
through attic openings, and settles
down to start fires in the very dry
lumber supporting your roof. Fire-
fighters may overlook a germinating
attic fire — their attention occupied
with more visible fires at the ground
level. It may take hours before an
attic fire becomes visible, but by that
time it is often too late to save the
home from severe damage.
Last but not least, assess the
flammability of your home's roof
covering. If the material is metal,
tile or slate, it will be nonflammable.
Asphalt shingles are also resistant
to burning. Untreated cedar shakes,
conversely, are highly flammable.
Wind and slope
If your home sits on a slope, pay
particular attention to fuels on the
downhill side of the house because
fire burns rapidly upslope. Take note,
too, of the prevailing wind direction
during the hot months of summer. If
a hot summer wind could push a fire
toward your house, you'll likely want
to increase your fuel reduction efforts
on the upwind side of your home.
Likewise for homes sited on a steep
slope, the fuel reduction emphasis
should be on the downslope side of
the home.
Access
Firefighters can't defend a home
against a wildfire if they can't get to
the home. The driveway is an impor-
tant factor in helping firefighters in
their endeavor to protect your home.
Is your driveway able to accom-
modate a fire truck? The minimum
width necessary is 12 feet, and the
minimum overhead clearance is
13 '/s feet. Clearing away excess
brush and tree branches also helps
firefighters see up the driveway. If
they can see where they're going,
firefighters can be more certain that
they have a safe environment to
make a stand against the wildfire.
The driveway is also important
for the residents. Oftentimes, when
a large wildfire threatens homes, the
residents are asked to evacuate the
area. Once an area is evacuated,
firefighters are able to perform their
tasks without having to worry about
residents becoming trapped by the
flames. However, if residents are un-
able to leave their homes because es-
cape routes are blocked or otherwise
unusable, then residents may have
little choice but to stay home.
If you have a long driveway and
it is bordered by thickets of trees
and brush, strongly consider these
actions:
• meet or exceed the drive-
way and structure fuel break
requirements of the Oregon
Forestland -Urban Interface
Fire Protection Act
• meet or exceed the act's stan-
dards for primary and second-
ary fuel breaks around struc-
tures on your property
• invite a member of your local
fire department to evaluate
your driveway and the area
surrounding your home for ac-
cess and defensibility.
Evaluate your property
Other considerations
Well-established and maintained
fuel breaks around structures and
driveways are strong steps toward
protecting your home and property
against severe wildfire damage. Here
are some additional steps that will
make your home and the area
around it more fire-resistant:
• cover under -deck openings
with screening or skirting
• move firewood and lumber
piles away from structures, or
fully enclose the piles
• remove dead branches over-
hanging the roof, and clear all
branches away from chimneys
Also ...
• develop a water source that
isn't dependent on municipal
power for flow and pressure
• employ fire prevention practic-
es and follow local restrictions
when burning debris
• dispose of fireplace and barbe-
cue ashes in a safe place
• keep hoses and sprinklers
where you can easily find them,
and decide where to set them
up to do the most good (i.e. on
top of a cedar shake roof, or a
wooden deck)
• practice what you and your
family will do, and where you
will go, in a fire emergency
• follow American Red Cross
guidelines for packing an emer-
gency survival kit
• if you have pets or livestock,
plan how to care for them dur-
ing a fire emergency, or find
out whether there is an animal
evacuation center in your area
• review insurance policies you
have purchased on your home
and its contents. What are the
conditions for replacement?
Are the dollar amounts suffi-
cient to rebuild?
Planning for a fire emergency
will help to keep it from turning into
a disaster.
Exhibit
Page _2�— of
0
Fuel reduction standards
here are three categories of
standards to choose from
to satisfy the fuel reduction
goals of the Oregon Forestland -
Urban Interface Fire Protection Act.
The Default and Optional standards
prescribe fuel reduction steps to
take to make a structure and its
surrounding landscape more fire-
resistant. Review the steps for each
set of standards on the following
pages to decide which standards will
work best for you and your situation.
Alternate standards are a unique
plan to be developed between a
property owner and the Oregon De-
6
Default Standards
Establish a fuel break
around structures
Improve driveway access
for fire trucks
Remove tree branches
near chimneys
Remove dead branches
(overhanging a roof
Move firewood away from
istructures. or cover it
Remove fiammables from
under decks and stairways
Create fuel breaks along
roadsides and property lines'
partment of Forestry. Essentially,
Alternate standards are steps
that a property owner will take to
meet the same goals of the other
standards, but in a manner that
better suits the property.
The Default, Optional and
Alternate standards may be ap-
plied to any property with struc-
tures. Only the Default standards
Optional Standards
Establish a primary fuel
break around structures
Create fuel breaks along
roadsides and property lines 2
Option 1: Make structures
fire resistant
Option 2: Extend fuel
breaks around structures
Option 3: Improve
;access for fire trucks
Option 4: Reduce ignition
risks on property
may be applied to a property without
structures.
If after reviewing the stan-
dards you feel unsure about which
standards to follow, consult with an
Oregon Department of Forestry fire
prevention advisor, or secure the ser-
vices of an accredited assessor. These
people can advise you about the best
course of action to take.
Alternate Standards
unique fuel -reduction plan
1. Applies only to properties with a fire -risk clas-
sification of High -Density Extreme.
2 Applies only to properties with a structure and a
fire -risk classification of High -Density Extreme.
QOCUMENT POOR OUALITY Exhibit
AT TIME 6F Flt vRDING. Page k 0 of_
ollowing the steps described
in the Default standards will
rounding property less vulnerable to
damage or destruction by a wildfire.
It will also make a property eligible
for certification under the Oregon
Forestland -Urban Interface Fire
Protection Act.
If at any point you find that the
Default standards cannot be applied
to your situation, or a different ap-
proach will provide better protection,
you may instead choose the Optional
or Alternate standards.
Default standards Step 1:
Establish a 30 -foot primary fuel
break around the home, and any
other structures on the property.
Find out more about creating a pri-
mary fuel break on page 8.
Step 2: Determine whether a
secondary fuel break is necessary.
There are two determining factors:
a property's fire -risk classification
and whether the roofing material
on the structure is of flammable
or nonflammable material. See the
"Secondary fuel break table" on
page 9.
Step 3: Determine whether it
is necessary to create a fuel break
around the driveway. If the driveway
on the property is shorter than 150
feet, a fuel break does not need to be
created. If the driveway is 150 feet
long or longer, a fuel break must be
established. The driveway fuel break
standards are on page 14.
Steps 4 Et 5: Remove any por-
tion of a tree that is within 10 feet
of a chimney, and remove all dead
vegetative material overhanging the
roof. Read more on page 15.
Step 6: Clear flammable material
out from beneath decks. More details
are available on page 16.
Step 7: Move firewood and lumber
piles at least 20 feet from structures.
This must only be done during the
months of fire season. See page 17.
Step 8: Create fuel breaks along
roadsides and property lines. This
step applies only to properties with a
fire -risk classification of High -Den-
sity Extreme.
Once all of the Default stan-
dards are satisfied, a property can be
certified.
Roofing: is it flammable or nonflammable?
Examples of
nonflammable roofing
material are:
composition asphalt
Untreated cedar shakes
shingles are flammable.
DOCUMENT POOR QUALITY
AT TIME OF RECORDING.
V
Z
Exhibit
Page_ of 3—
Default standards
Primary fuel break
he first step in both the Default and the
Optional standards is to establish a 30 -
foot primary fuel break around struc-
tures.
A correctly developed fuel break should slow
the rate of spread and the intensity of an ad-
vancing wildfire, and create an area in which fire
suppression operations may safely occur.
The primary fuel break begins at the outside
edge of a structure's furthest extension. This may
be the edge of the roof eave, or the outside edge
of a deck attached to the structure. The shape of
the fuel break mirrors the footprint shape of the
structure and anything that is attached to it.
Fuel break distances are measured along the
slope. No fuel break needs to extend beyond the
property line.
The fuel break may use natural firebreaks,
DRIVEWAY
such as a rock outcropping or a water body, or it
can be completely man-made.I��,
In the primary fuel break zone: redOC 1OSse
• Ground cover should be substantially ea''by t S c bLa
non-flammable. Examples of this include/ rts 04 00801
asphalt, bare soil, clover, concrete, green C E-' g� a sl etur glee e1J'
e s �Oit
grass, ivy, mulches, rock, succulent E.'d
ground cover or wildflowers.
• Dry grass should be cut to a height of less than four ._ 410k Co
inches. " , Ialvpsti I
• Cut grass, leaves, needles, twigs and similar small vegetative de-
bris should be broken up so that a continuous fuel
bed is not created.
• Shrubs and trees should be maintained in a
green condition, be substantially free of
j dead plant material, and have any poten-
tial "ladder fuels" removed.
• • Trees and shrubs should also be ar-
,_ .r:.' ranged so that fire cannot spread or jump
from plant to plant. Some thinning may be
necessary to accomplish this.
p
AVOID INVASION! lomh-
Keep noxious weeds off your property.
Learn to identify them and remove them
whenever you find them. Treat bare soil
areas with weed -free seed to deprive
noxious weeds of growing space. For more
information, contact the Deschutes County"
Extension Service at (541) 548-6088. A
DOCUMENT POOR QUALITY Exhibit
AT TIME OF RL u , )RDING. page �
Default standards
he secondary fuel break increases
a structure's distance from poten-
tially flammable natural vegeta-
tion. It also helps to create a safer zone for
firefighters to operate in. The added fuel
break distance will also create an emer-
gency safety zone for residents who may
have to stay at home during a wildfire
emergency.
The secondary fuel break begins
where the primary fuel break ends
and continues an additional 20-70 feet
(depending on your property's fire -risk
classification and the type of roofing on
the structure), or to the property line. See
the "Secondary fuel break table" below
to determine how big the secondary fuel
break needs to be on your property.
Characteristics of the secondary fuel
break include shrubs or trees that are:
• green and healthy
• substantially free of dead branches
• pruned where necessary to keep fire
from "laddering" into tree crowns
• thinned to whatever degree neces-
sary to prevent fire from transferring
from plant to plant.
Low None None
Moderate None None
High None 20 feet
IExtreme It I 20 feet I 70 feet I
Histh-Density Extreme
To use this table, find your property's fire -risk classification in column 1. If the structure on the prop-
erty has nonflammable roofing, find the value in column 2 that is on the same line as your fire -risk
classification. If the structure has flammable roofing, use the values in column 3.
and
,P
fire on the ground (above) where
firefighters can work to safely
contain it.
a forest fire's
heat (left).
9
DOCUMENT PCr, Exhibit �
Page _ 3 of?—
Default standards
Ladder fuek
o keep fire out of tree
crowns, it is necessary to
disrupt a fire's pathway to
branches, needles and leaves. The
strategic removal of lower tree limbs
— which act like rungs of a ladder
that a fire can climb — can make the
difference between a scorched trunk
and a tree stripped of all foliage.
Most wildfires start on the ground in the smallest fuels —
needles, leaves and dry grass. Fire will continue to spread
upward — up a hill, up a tree — unless pathways to fresh fuel
are interrupted (left). Removing ladder fuels helps to keep fire
on the ground, where it is manageable, rather than in the tree
crowns, where fire is difficult to control.
How high can f lames f y?
About three times higher than the height of the plant that is burning.
Shrub --- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Ladder- MMM! 12 15 18 1 21 1 24 27
All measurements in feet
10
Ladder fuel trim zone: Option 1: Remove tree
Shrub height X 3 limbs within the trim zone
DOCUMENT POOR QUALITY
AT TlNlE OF RECORDING.
Option 2: Remove the
shrub
Exhibit
Page 11
Pruning Do
Remove live branches from hard-
wood trees during late winter or
early spring, when the tree is dor-
mant.
Step 2: Above the
notch, cut off the
branch V
F
e notch
ll limit
ntering
and cracking
when the heavy
end of the
branch falls
Conifer trees may be limbed any
time, except during early summer. Pruning Don'ts
When deciding which live branches
to remove, first choose those with
poor health or little green foliage.
Next, choose branches that are dam-
aged, misshapen, or interfering with
other branches.
Remove dead branches any time of
the year.
Use sharp tools and make clean cuts.
Painting wound dressing on pruning
cuts is unnecessary and can actually
hurt the tree by causing the pruning
cut to seal slower.
Cutting branches flush with the
trunk will rob the tree of natural
chemicals used to close the wound.
This will lead to decay in the tree.
Never remove more than one-third 9T ;
of a tree's live crown.
m.
DOCUI,117_7`7 DO, OP QUALITY
Default standards
Exhibit
Page Jf5 of
Default standards
he purpose of thinning trees
and shrubs is to reduce the
likelihood that fire will jump
from plant to plant. Once a fire's
ability to transfer to other plants is
reduced, it will quickly and dramati-
cally lose intensity.
When choosing which trees or
shrubs to remove, choose the ones
that have the poorest vigor. Signs of
poor vigor include numerous bare or
spindly branches, poor color in the
leaves or needles, and evidence of
parasites, such as insects or fungus.
No moonscaping
Thinning is good but
don't overdo it.
Healthy trees
can shield a
home from -
airborne
firebrands.
If you aren't i
sure what to ;
cut, consult a
forester or tree
care professional
before using the saw.
12
C OMMENT POOR QUALITY
Al —,k � E OP RECORDING. Exhibit_
Page JJ.V — of
Fire needs three fundamental
elements for it to occur:
1. There must be fuel
2. There must be oxygen
3. There must be heat
Remove any one of these ele-
ments and fire will go out — or
fail to start.
Since you cannot control the
amount of oxygen in the atmo-
sphere, and have limited control
over natural sources of heat (such
as lightning), it becomes all the
more important to focus on the
element you can control: fuel.
A fire's behavior — how it
moves — is also controlled by ele-
ments in its environment. Basical-
ly, fire behavior is influenced by:
1. Available fuel
2. Weather factors, such as
sun and wind
3. Topography
You cannot change the weath-
er, and — in most cases — you
can't flatten mountains or fill in
valleys. But you can control the
amount of fuel available to a fire.
The common denominator in
the fundamentals of fire and the
fundamentals of fire behavior is
fuel. This is something that you
can control that will reduce the
likelihood of a fire starting and
spreading
Pop Quiz Answers: 1 - H. Nearly every-
thing in this photo wilt bum, except the
metal ladder and the metal vent pipes.
The glass won't bum, but it will burst
— letting fire into the house — especially
if the deck catches fire. 2 - C. The shake
roof is this home's greatest liability. Fire-
brands from a wildfire a mite away could
set this house on fire, and the resulting
intense fire could bum the house to its
foundation in minutes. 3 - F. The trees
are of least concern. Green, healthy tree
crowns can protect a roof from airborne
sparks and firebrands. These trees have
had their lower branches removed, mak-
ing them less likely to transfer fire from
the ground to the crowns.
i;
0
Default standards
Fundamentais:oT�,�� i
J
I} c .'. ...� Q
LOGS GQAU MSIK AIR(OXY6EN) 0GAR rm sv" = F l RE
FUEL + AIR # 14EAT = F1 RE
a
WEATHER
Common denominator = fuel
1. What sources of filet fora fine do you see in this photo?
A. Tall, dry grass E. Wooden posts
B. Wooden deck F. Trees
C. Shake roofing G. Pine needles
D. Wooden siding H. All of the above
2. Which fuel is of greatest concern?
3. Which fuel is of least concern?
13
LiOCUMENT POOR QUALITY Exhibit
IJTkl OF �Rt .t : , ..:: � Page �'� of�—
Default standards
Driveway duel break
he driveway fuel break is intended to create clearance for a
fire truck, as well as to slow the rate of spread and inten-
sity of a wildland fire. It also is where fire suppression may
more safely occur.
The clearance space in the driving area must meet these speci-
fications:
• the horizontal clearance must be at least 12 feet
• the vertical clearance must be at least 13 '/s feet
The fuel break can be natural or man-made and must have
these characteristics:
• the fuel break must extend 10 feet from each side of the
driveway's centerline, creating an area that is at least 20 feet
wide, including the driving surface
• the ground cover must be substantially nonflammable, as
detailed in the section about the primary fuel break on page 8
• healthy trees and shrubs must be thinned and pruned to mini-
mize a wildfire's spread
• the plants must be substantially free of dead material
• for further guidance, see the secondary fuel break, ladder fuel
and thinning sections on pages 9, 10 and 12
A properly
developed
driveway
fuel break
has plenty
of horizontal
and vertical
clearance.
14
Standards for driveways apply to
driveways longer than
150 feet. If you
have a long
driveway,
you'll need
to make
sure a fire
truck can
fit beneath _
limbs and
between trees and shrubs, and
create a roadside fuel break so
firefighters will have a safe place in
which to set up and work.
DOCUMENT POOR QUALITY Exhibit
AT TIa`vIE OF RECORDING. `Page
Default standards
Sparks from a chimney connected to a fireplace or wood -burn-
ing stove could catch tree branches on fire. To reduce the
chance of this happening, trim all branches ten feet away
from a chimney that vents a wood -burning fireplace or stove.
All dead branches overhanging any portion of the roof must
be removed. Dead wood catches fire easier than live, green
wood. Airborne embers could cause dead branches to ignite,
starting a crown fire in the trees above your home's roof, or
dropping burning debris onto your roof's surface.
Trimming limbs hanging over the roof can be dangerous.
Consider hiring a certified arborist or tree care profes-
sional for this job.
Di Ct,,A !ENI POOR QUALITY
AT 74viE OF RECORDING.
15
Exhibit A
Page Iq of 38
Default standards
Under -deck flamma6le,5
A
burning wooden deck or stairway may catch the rest
f the house on fire. The best way to keep that from
happening is to clean flammable material out from beneath
exterior wooden decks and stairways.
Firewood and lumber need to be removed. Dry needles,
leaves and other litter needs to be raked out and removed.
Keeping the space under wooden decks and stairways
clean — and enclosed — is one of the best ways to keep a
house safe during fire season.
61
Removing flammable debris from under a deck
is only half the battle. Keeping this debris out
is the other half. Metal screen, with 1/4 -inch
mesh or smaller, will help keep needles, leaves
and other poten-
tial fuels from
accumulating in
hidden places.
Screening, or
skirting, wilt also
help to keep out
hot ash, airborne
embers, and
other fire -causing
debris.
ike this
in send
dowing
Yard. If
perty is
id of an
ke this,
tots of
to land
ur yard
on your
and to
t under
it deck.
0
DOCUNflEEN T POOR QUALITY Exhibit_F
Wil T1111V41 OF REC-ORDING. Page -2,L of
0
a
Co
Default standards
Firewood iocaUo�-1
i
firewood stacked next to a house (illustration 1) is a ready
source of ignition and can become a source of intense,
sustained heat if it should catch fire. This could ignite the
house's siding or eaves, and cause the windows to break, allow-
ing fire to enter the house.
To eliminate this problem, either move the firewood 20
feet from the house (2) during fire season, or build an enclosure
around the firewood (3).
D 'U',!�FNIT POOR QUALITY
A flaming firewood pile that's too close to a home (left)
could catch the wood siding on fire and blow out windows
— giving fire access to the home's interior. Twenty feet of
open space between the firewood pile and the house will
greatly help the home outlive the firewood pile.
17
Exhibit A
Page 2, ofd
Default standards
Roaclsicie & prop
dine fuel breaks
roperties with a fire -risk classi-
fication of "High -Density Ex-
treme" must have fuel breaks
along all property lines and road-
sides. This is to reduce the potential
of a wildfire crossing from a neigh-
boring property onto your property,
and vice versa. These fuel breaks will
also act as safety zones for firefighters
working to defend homes and prop-
erties against wildfire damage.
A roadside fuel break:
• begins at the edge of any road
that is adjacent to or runs
through the property
• extends for a distance of at
least 20 feet from the roadside,
or to the property line, which-
ever is shortest
A property line fuel break:
• begins at the boundary with an
adjacent property
• extends for at least 20 feet from
the boundary, or to another
property line, whichever is
shortest
The distance for both the road-
side fuel break and property line fuel
break shall be measured along the
slope.
Natural features, such as rock -
fields and water bodies, may be
incorporated into fuel breaks.
In general, the fuel breaks shall
have these characteristics:
• ground cover will be substan-
tially nonflammable; that is,
the ground shall be covered
with nonflammable material,
such as asphalt or concrete,
or covered with fire-resistant
plants, such as green grass, ivy
or wildflowers
• dry grass shall be mowed to a
height of four inches or lower
18
DOC1,`��. ,;!1F''T POOR QUALITY
-
• areas of continuous cut dry
grass, leaves, needles and other
fine, dry natural fuel shall be
broken up or separated with
fuel breaks to disallow the
transfer of fire
• trees and shrubs shall be green
and healthy, and free of dead
vegetative material
• potential ladder fuels shall be
removed (see page 10)
• trees and shrubs shall be
thinned to an extent that the
potential transfer of fire from
one plant to another is disrupt-
ed (see page 12)
Exhibit f-\
Page On of
n the event that the Default
standards cannot be applied to
your property, then the Optional
standards may better suit your situ-
ation. If neither the Default nor the
Optional standards are suitable for
your property, then an Alternate
standards plan must be written (see
page 22).
The Optional standards may
be applied to properties that have a
structure. In all cases, a 30 -foot pri-
mary fuel break must be developed
around structures. Properties rated
"High -Density Extreme" must de-
velop 20 -foot -wide fuel breaks along
roadsides and property lines.
The minimum number of op-
tions that must be employed depends
on the property's fire -risk classifica-
tion. A property rated "High" must
employ at least two of the options.
Properties rated "Extreme"
or "High -Density Extreme"
must employ at least three
of the options.
Primary fuel break
The primary fuel break
is required of everyone who
chooses to follow the Op-
tional standards. The char-
acteristics of the primary
fuel break are:
• the fuel break must ex-
Roadside and property
line fuel breaks
Properties classified "High -Den-
sity Extreme" must have fuel breaks
along property lines and roadsides.
These fuel breaks must be at least
20 feet wide. In general, the guide-
lines for these fuel breaks are the
same as for fuel breaks around
structures:
• the fuel breaks will slow a
wildfire's rate of spread
• they will also reduce a wildfire's
intensity
• the ground cover in the fuel
breaks will be substantially
nonflammable
tional 20 feet, or to the property line.
Characteristics of the secondary fuel
break include shrubs or trees that are
• green and healthy
• substantially free of dead
branches and other material
• pruned where necessary to
deter fire laddering
• thinned to whatever degree
necessary to prevent fire from
transferring from plant to plant
See more about developing a secondary fuel
break on page 9.
Wildfire -safe access
option
tend 30 feet from a structure's
furthest extension
• the ground cover must be sub-
stantially nonflammable, and
dry grass must be mowed to a
height of 4 inches or shorter
• trees and shrubs must be green
and healthy, substantially free
of dead branches and other
material, pruned where neces-
sary to deter fire laddering, and
thinned to whatever degree
necessary to prevent fire from
transferring from plant to plant
See more about creating a primary fuel
break on page 8.
PHOTO BY ANDREA BOOHER/FEMA
D 71"'%r a N'T POOR QUALITY
'—!'I OF F 'tea
• trees and shrubs within the fuel
breaks will be maintained in a
green, healthy condition and
kept substantially free of dead
plant material
See more about developingfuel breaks along
roadsides and property lines on page 18.
Secondary fuel break
option
The secondary fuel break option
is to increase a structure's distance
from potentially flammable natural
vegetation. The secondary fuel break
begins where the primary fuel break
ends and continues for an addi-
The wildfire -safe access option is
intended to create horizontal and
a fire truck. This option also r+
quires a fuel break adjacent to the
driveway. The standards require
• horizontal clearance above the
driving surface to a width of 12
feet, and vertical clearance to a
height of 13 V2 feet
• a fuel break that extends 10
feet from each side of the
driveway's centerline
• in the fuel break, the ground
cover must be substantially
nonflammable, and dry grass
must be mowed to a height of
4 inches or shorter
• trees and shrubs must be green
and healthy, substantially free
of dead branches and other
material, pruned where neces-
sary to deter fire laddering, and
thinned to whatever degree
necessary to prevent fire from
transferring from plant to plant
For more information creating a driveway
fuel break, seepage 14.
See more options on
pages 20 ft 21.
Exhibit PC
Page ?� of
19
Optional standards
20
he standards of this option are intended to sig-
nificantly reduce the chance that a structure will
incur damage from a wildfire.
To meet this standard, a structure must have:
• nonflammable roofing material
• exterior openings, such as attic vents and the
undersides of decks, covered with metal screen
having a mesh no larger than 'A inch
• potentially flammable debris cleared from beneath
all attachments to the structure, such as decks and
porches (see page 16)
• tree limbs within 10 feet of a chimney or stovepipe,
and dead vegetation overhanging the structure, removed
lq
(see page 15)
• firewood and lumber piles moved 20 feet from the structure
during fire season, or the piles must be fully enclosed (see page 17)
material
resistant structures -
• use double -pane windows for
increased heat resistance
• don't put highly flammable
plants (such as arborvitae)
beneath windows
easily ignitable debris, such as
needles, leaves and twigs
• make sure chimneys and
stovepipes for wood -burning
devices have spark arresters
• ensure all exterior doors and
10
have good weatherstripping
• find and clean collection
points for needles, leaves
and other wind -transported,
flammable debris (so airborne
embers won't start a fire)
D0CS1;'+1tF1NT POOR QUALITY
j, _ i ;::Vii' : Or RECORDING. Exhibit
Page �t-i of
FoHowing the stan-
dards for this option
will reduce the
likelihood that a wild-
fire will be started
on the property.
To comply, land-
owners must follow these
fire prevention practices:
• open fires will be started only
when permits have been ob-
tained and fire safety require-
ments have been met
Be part of the
fire -prevention
solution, not port
of the problem!
• no one under the age of 16
shall tend or maintain an
open fire
• open fires shall only take
place when weather 4k
conditions permit safe
burning
W®
• fire lines shall be constructed
larger than
around the place where an
V2 inch
open burn is to occur
• grills,
• fire tools and water shall be
\®
close at hand whenever an
fireplaces
open burn is conducted
and similar
• chimneys and stovepipes
shall have 12 -gauge metal
spark arrester screens with
devices shall
be in good condition and have
spark arresters or screens over
all openings
• ashes and coals shall be dis-
posed of in a manner to
prevent the unintended start of
a wildfire
• outdoor equipment capable
of generating heat, sparks or
fire shall be used only when in
compliance with permits and
fire safety requirements.
� : Only you
.. .
�.i.,,.�
Open burning regulations
and restrictions
Burning restrictions may not be the
same throughout Deschutes County.
Call the nearest fire department, fire
protection district or Oregon Depart-
ment of Forestry office for current
information.
• Bend Fire Department and Deschutes County Rural Fire Pro-
tection District #2, (541) 322-6335
• Redmond Fire Department, (541) 504-5000
• La Pine Rural Fire Protection District, (541) 536-9056
• Sisters -Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District, (541)
549-2333
• Black Butte Fire District, (541) 595-2288
• Sunriver Fire Department, (541) 593-8622
• ODF Central Oregon District, (541) 447-5658
Optional standards
To report a fire, call 9-1-1
21
Exhibit 16,
fit C i <, OF RECORDING. Exhibit
9.5 Of.�
mesh size no
FOREST FIRE
larger than
DANGER TODAY
V2 inch
pO�pPTE NICK
.�
• grills,
F
o9F;
outdoor
`•
fireplaces
and similar
devices shall
be in good condition and have
spark arresters or screens over
all openings
• ashes and coals shall be dis-
posed of in a manner to
prevent the unintended start of
a wildfire
• outdoor equipment capable
of generating heat, sparks or
fire shall be used only when in
compliance with permits and
fire safety requirements.
� : Only you
.. .
�.i.,,.�
Open burning regulations
and restrictions
Burning restrictions may not be the
same throughout Deschutes County.
Call the nearest fire department, fire
protection district or Oregon Depart-
ment of Forestry office for current
information.
• Bend Fire Department and Deschutes County Rural Fire Pro-
tection District #2, (541) 322-6335
• Redmond Fire Department, (541) 504-5000
• La Pine Rural Fire Protection District, (541) 536-9056
• Sisters -Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District, (541)
549-2333
• Black Butte Fire District, (541) 595-2288
• Sunriver Fire Department, (541) 593-8622
• ODF Central Oregon District, (541) 447-5658
Optional standards
To report a fire, call 9-1-1
21
Exhibit 16,
fit C i <, OF RECORDING. Exhibit
9.5 Of.�
f you are unable to follow
either the Default or Optional
standards because of unique
circumstances on your property, you
may choose to develop an Alternate
standards plan. This may also be
the preferred course of action if an
Alternate plan would provide better
fuel -reduction results than if you had
applied either the Default or Op-
tional standards.
Alternate standards may be ap-
plied on properties with structures,
regardless of fire -risk classification.
It is recommended that you work
with an accredited assessor or other
wildland fire protection professional
on developing the Alternate stan-
dards plan.
The Alternate standards plan
must be written on an Alternate
Standards form, which may be
obtained from a Department of For-
estry office, or may be downloaded
from the department's World Wide
Web site at wwwodfstate.orus.
Before a plan can be used, it must be
approved by the district forester. To
be approved, the plan must provide
equal or better protection from wild-
fire than the Default standards or the
Optional standards. The Alternate
standards plan must also provide bet-
ter
etter protection than the roadside and
property line fuel break standards
required on properties classified as
High -Density Extreme. The final
plan must be signed by both the dis-
trict forester and the property owner.
An important component of an
Alternate standards plan is a map
of the property. Use the following
conventions and illustrate essential
elements:
• Orient the map so north is at
the top of the page
• Mark the property's boundary
lines
22
• Give dimensions of property
• Show locations of structures
• Illustrate locations of drive-
ways, walkways and roads
The map needs to show the ar-
rangement of plants. Highlight those
that are particularly vulnerable to
wildfire (such as juniper, bitterbrush
and manzanita). Also, illustrate fire-
resistant features such as driveways,
rock formations and water bodies.
Note the direction of prevailing
wind during summer months. Briefly
describe the property's general
topography. It is also important to
Prevali
wind di
dd" ;
En
N
N
show or note other elements, such as
property easements, public utilities,
reliable water sources, and estab-
lished debris -burning sites.
Describe how your Alternate .
standards plan provides wildfire
protection for structures, and reduces
wildfire potential on the property.
What steps must be taken to achieve
these goals? Draw a map to illustrate
what the property will look like after
the Alternate standards plan is put
into effect.
Exhibit Jc�
Page 2( of
What must a property
owner do to comply with
the Oregon Forestland -
Urban Interface Fire
Protection Act?
Forestland -urban interface property
owners will receive a property evalu-
ation guide, instructions for how to
comply with the act's fuel -reduction
standards, and a certification form
from the Oregon Department of
Forestry. Once a property is brought
into compliance with the act's fuel -
reduction standards, the property
owner signs and returns the certifi-
cation form to the Department of
Forestry.
How often must proper-
ty recertification occur?
A property must be recertified every
five years, or when a property is sold,
or when a structure is added to the
lot.
Is a property owner
responsible for creating
a fuel break in an
easement?
The property owner is responsible
for creating a fuel break in an ease-
ment if the easement is a legally
platted portion of the property. In
the event that a property owner is
prohibited from creating a fuel break
in an easement on his or her prop-
erty, an appeal may be made by the
property owner to the local ODF dis-
trict forester for a modification of the
fuel reduction standards. This appeal
must be made in writing.
What happens if a What's an accredited
property isn't certified assessor?
and a fire occurs?
Under this act, the state is empow-
ered to collect up to $100,000 of
certain suppression costs from a
landowner if
• a landowner does not certify
his or her property
• a fire originates on the property
• the fire spreads within the pro-
tection zone around a structure
and driveway that does not
meet the standards
• and the Oregon Department
of Forestry incurs extraordi-
nary costs for suppression.
The cost collection may be greater
than $100,000 if a landowner is
found to be willful, negligent or mali-
cious in the origin of the fire.
Will certification reduce
a property's fire -risk
classification?
No. A forestland -urban interface
area's fire -risk classification can only
be changed by the county forestland -
urban interface classification com-
mittee. The committee meets at least
every five years to identify forestland -
urban interface areas within its area
of jurisdiction, and to assign fire risk
classifications to those areas.
Can a homeowner
be fined if his or her
property isn't certified?
No. There is no fine for not comply-
ing with the act.
An accredited assessor is a profes-
sional who can evaluate forestland -
urban interface properties and certify
a property for a property owner.
There are three types of accredited
assessor:
• An independent contractor who
holds an Oregon Construction
Contractor's Board or Oregon
Landscape Contractors Board
license
• An authorized agent of a struc-
tural fire department or fire
protection district
• An authorized agent of a home
or property owners association
In all cases, accredited assessors must
have wildfire suppression or preven-
tion experience, or forestland man-
agement experience, and a signed
accreditation agreement from the
Department of Forestry.
Is it necessary to cut
down a lot of trees to
comply with the act's
standards?
In most cases, no. Healthy trees can
protect a home from a fire's radiant
heat, or airborne embers. It may be
necessary to thin some young trees to
reduce the volume of fuel on a prop-
erty, but it is generally wise to leave
the biggest trees, if they are healthy,
since mature trees are quite resistant
to damage from low- to medium -m -
tensity wildfire.
23
Exhibit (-
Page 9 ofd
Questions and answers
Does the act replace or
supersede other laws?
The act and its administrative rules
do not supersede or replace any
federal law or regulation, any other
state agency law or regulation, or
any more restrictive local govern-
ment ordinance or code.
Conflicts with other laws and regula-
tions, for which the state forester is
responsible and hasjurisdiction, shall
be resolved within the scope of the
state forester's authority.
Compliance with the act does not
relieve a property owner of the
requirements of any other law or
regulation that applies to the lands in
question.
Can fuel breaks be
created in areas that
are designated as State
Scenic Waterways?
Follow these guidelines if forestland -
urban interface property is within
a State Scenic Waterway along the
Deschutes River. Riparian vegetation
is high in moisture content and will
not need to be removed or manipu-
lated. Landscaping (trees, brush,
etc.) that provides screening between
structures and the river must be
maintained in a healthy condition.
To ensure that your fuel -reduction
plan doesn't compromise a scenic
waterway:
• Make a plan as to how to
achieve
In areas where local trimmed
defensible space
standards, codes or
ordinances exist, do
property owners need
to meet the standards of
the Oregon Forestland -
Urban Interface Fire
Protection Act, too?
Maybe. If local government stan-
dards, codes or ordinances meet or
exceed the defensible space stan-
dards within the Oregon Forestland -
Urban Interface Fire Protection Act,
the local standards take precedence
over the act.
24
primary and
secondary
fuel breaks
around
structures
• Draw a
map that
shows struc-
tures, and
trees and
brush to be
thinned or
• Submit the plan and map to
the Oregon Parks and Recre-
ation Department for approval
prior to removing or manipu-
lating any vegetation
For more information or questions
regarding state scenic waterways
contact the Oregon Parks and Rec-
reation Department at the following
locations:
20300 Empire Avenue, Suite B 1
Bend, OR 97701
541-388-6073
725 Summer Street NE, Suite C
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-0707
DOCUM,F T POOR QUALITY
Al- 11.:"4E , ;F RECORDING.
Exhibit M
Page 2_ of
Oregon Forestland -Urban Interface
Fire Protection Act of 1997
Administrative Rules
(Excerpted from Oregon Administrative Rules chapter 629, Division 44)
629-044-1005 Definitions
(1) The definitions set forth in ORS 477.001, 477.015 and
OAR 629-041-0005 shall apply to OAR 629-044-1000 to
629-044-1110, unless the context otherwise requires.
(2) The following words and phrases, when used in OAR
629-044-1000 to 629-044-1110, shall mean the following,
unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Concentration of structures" means dwell-
ings in a density of four or more per quarter of a
quarter section (an area approximately 40 acres in
size), as determined by the Public Land Survey.
(b) "Classification" means the process set forth in
ORS 477.031 to 477.052 and 477.057.
(c) "Classified by a committee" means the end
result of the classification process set forth in ORS
477.031 to 477.052 and 477.057.
(d) "Current zoning" means zoning which allows the
siting of a dwelling as an outright use.
(e) "Driveway" means the primary, privately owned
vehicle access road that serves a dwelling, which is
controlled by the owner of the dwelling, and which
is longer than 150 feet.
(f) "Dwelling" means a structure, or a part of a
structure, that is used as a home, as a residence,
or as a sleeping place by one or more people who
maintain a household in the structure.
(g) "Fire resistant roofing " means roofing material
that has been installed and is maintained to the
specifications of the manufacturer and which:
(A) Is rated by Underwriter's Laboratory as
Class A, Class B, Class C, or is equivalent
thereto; or
(B) Is metal.
(h) "Fuel break" means a natural or a human -
made area immediately adjacent to a structure or
to a driveway, where material capable of allow-
ing a wildfire to spread does not exist or has been
cleared, modified, or treated to:
(A) Significantly reduce the rate of spread
and the intensity of an advancing wildfire;
and
(B) Create an area in which fire suppression
operations may more safely occur.
(i) "Geographic area" means an area which results
from the partitioning of all or portions of a district
into smaller segments, based on the presence of
differing hazard factors, risks, or dwelling concen-
trations.
(j) "Hazard factor" means one of the three factors
which most influence the potential of a wildfire to
spread. The three hazard factors are topography,
natural vegetative fuels, and wildfire weather.
(k) "Homeowner's association" means a non-profit
corporation organized under ORS Chapter 65 and
which is subject to the provisions of ORS 94.625 to
94.700.
(L) "Included rural lands" means lands which meet
the definition of "rural" but which have been clas-
sified by a committee as "suburban."
(m) "Ladder fuel" means branches, leaves, nee-
dles, and other combustible vegetation that may
allow a wildfire to spread from lower growing veg-
etation to higher growing vegetation.
(n) "Lands" means one or more tax lots.
(o) "Non -fire resistant roofing" means roofing
material that is not fire resistant including, but not
limited to, cedar shakes.
(p) "Private fire department" means a private
entity which provides structural fire prevention and
suppression services and which meets the safety
requirements set forth in OAR 437-002-0182.
25
Exhibit
Page .9-0
Administrative Rules
(q) "Road" means a road over which the public has
a right of use that is a matter of public record.
(r) "Rural" means a geographic area which has
not been classified by a committee as suburban or
urban and shall include:
(A) Lands zoned primarily for farm or forestry
uses;
(B) Lands which have an average tax lot size
of 10 acres or larger;
(C) Lands not zoned to allow a concentration
of structures; and
(D) Lands which do not contain a concentra-
tion of structures.
(s) "Safety zone" means an adequately sized area,
which is substantially free of flammable materials,
and which can be used as a refuge to protect hu-
man life from an advancing wildfire.
(t) "Standards" means the actions, efforts, or mea-
sures which owners of suburban and urban lands
shall take on their property, prior to a wildfire oc-
currence which originates on the property.
(u) "Structural fire service provider" means a local
government agency or a private fire department
which provides structural fire prevention and sup-
pression services.
(v) "Structure" means a permanently sited build-
ing, a manufactured home, or a mobile home that
is either a dwelling or an accessory building, which
occupies at least 500 square feet of ground space,
and which has at least one side that is fully cov-
ered.
(w) "Suburban" means a geographic area which
includes one or more of the following:
(A) Lands where a concentration of structures
exists;
(B) Lands on which current zoning allows a
concentration of structures; or
(C) Included rural lands.
(x) "Urban" means a geographic area that includes
one or more of the following:
(A) Lands within a city limit; or
(B) Lands within an urban growth boundary
26
(y) "Urban growth boundary" is defined by ORS
197.295.
(z) "Wildfire" means an uncontrolled fire which is
burning on forestland and which is damaging, or is
threatening to damage, forest resources or struc-
tures.
(aa) "Zoning" means a local governmental zoning
ordinance, a land division ordinance adopted under
ORS 92.044 or 92.046, or a similar general ordi-
nance establishing standards for implementing a
comprehensive plan.
629-044-1050 Purpose And Intent Of Standards
(1) The standards required by OAR 629-044-1055 are de-
signed to minimize or mitigate a wildfire hazard or risk on
an owners property which arises due, singly or in combi-
nation, to the presence of structures, to the arrangement
or accumulation of vegetative fuels, or to the presence of
other wildfire hazards.
(2) It is recognized that owners have a variety of objec-
tives to achieve while applying the standards, including
objectives related to aesthetics, dust barriers, fish and
wildlife habitat, gardening, soil stabilization, sound bar-
riers, and visual barriers. It is the intent of the standards
to allow owners to meet such objectives, provided there
is no compromise of the standards needed to mitigate
wildfire hazards or risks.
(3) The standards are considered to be minimum mea-
sures which are intended to improve the survivability of
structures during a wildfire, but which will not guarantee
survivability.
629-044-1055 Standards
(1) Owners of lands classified by a committee as Low are
not required to comply with the standards, however, they
are encouraged to review their individual situation and to
apply those standards which may be appropriate.
(2) Owners of lands classified by a committee as Moder-
ate, High, Extreme, or High Density Extreme shall comply
with the standards applicable to their lands. In meeting
this requirement, owners shall apply one or more of the
following:
Exhibit f_
Pagq'2)0 of�
(a) The default standards set forth in OAR 629-
044-1060, which are intended for the majority of
owners;
(b) The optional standards set forth in OAR 629-
044-1065, which are intended for owners who are
unable to meet the default standards; or
(c) The alternate standards developed pursuant to
OAR 629-044-1070, which are intended for own-
ers who wish to address site specific conditions or
unique situations.
(3) Owners are encouraged to exceed the standards and
to apply additional wildfire safety measures.
629-044-1060 Default Standards
(1) Where structures exist on lands classified
by a committee as Moderate, High, Extreme,
or High Density Extreme owners shall:
(a) Provide and maintain primary fuel
breaks which comply with the require-
ments of OAR 629-044-1085 and which
are:
(A) Immediately adjacent to
structures, for a distance of at
Administrative Rules
tance shall be measured along the slope and from
the furthest extension of the structure, including
attached carports, decks, or eaves.
(c) Remove any portion of a tree which extends to
within 10 feet of the outlet of a structure chimney
or a stove pipe;
(d) Maintain the portion of any tree which over-
hangs a structure substantially free of dead plant
material;
(e) Maintain the area under decks substantially free
of firewood, stored flammable building material,
leaves, needles, and other flammable material; and
(f) During times of the year when wildfire may be a
threat, locate firewood, flammable building mate-
rial, and other similar flammable material:
(A) At least 20 feet away from a structure; or
TABLE • • .Fuel Break Distance
o a: e
classificat
•oolg F�
Low None None
Moderate 30 feet 30 feet
High 30 feet 50 feet
Extreme Et High- 50 feet 100 feet
Density Extreme
least 30 feet, or to the property
line, whichever is the shortest distance. The
distance shall be measured along the slope
and from the furthest extension of the struc-
ture, including attached carports, decks, or
eaves.
(B) Immediately adjacent to driveways,
for a distance of at least ten feet from the
centerline of a driveway, or to the property
line, whichever is the shortest distance. The
distance shall be measured along the slope.
Including the driving surface, a fuel break
shall result in an open area which is not less
than 13 1/2 feet in height and 12 feet in
width or to the property line, whichever is
the shortest distance.
(b) Provide and maintain secondary fuel breaks
which comply with the requirements of OAR 629-
044-1085 and which are immediately adjacent to
primary fuel breaks, for the distance necessary to
comply with the total fuel break distance specified
in Table 2 of this rule (above), or to the property
line, whichever is the shortest distance. The dis-
(B) In a fully enclosed space.
(2) On all lands classified by a committee as High Density
Extreme, owners shall comply with subsection (1) of this
rule and with the standards set forth in OAR 629-044-
1075.
629-044-1065 Optional Standards
(1) Where structures exist on lands classified by a com-
mittee as Moderate, High, Extreme, or High Density
Extreme, owners shall provide fuel breaks which comply
with the requirements of OAR 629-044-1085 and which
are immediately adjacent to structures for a distance of
thirty feet or to the property line, whichever is the short-
est distance. The distance shall be measured along the
slope and from the furthest extension of the structure,
including attached carports, decks, or eaves.
(2) Where structures exist on lands classified by a com-
27
Exhibit
Page'_'-�> I Of38
Administrative Rules
mittee as Moderate, owners shall comply with subsection
(1) of this rule and with one or more of the options set
forth in subsection (6) of this rule.
(3) Where structures exist on lands classified by a com-
mittee as High, owners shalt comply with subsection (1)
of this rule and with two or more of the options set forth
in subsection (6) of this rule.
(4) Where structures exist on lands classified by a com-
mittee as Extreme, owners shall comply with subsection
(1) of this rule and with three or more of the options set
forth in subsection (6) of this rule.
(5) Where structures exist on lands classified by a com-
mittee as High Density Extreme, owners shall comply
with subsection (1) of this rule, with three or more of the
options set forth in subsection (6) of this rule, and with
subsection (7) of this rule.
(6) Optional standards are:
(a) Option 1, fire resistant structures. This option
is intended to reduce the likelihood of a structure
being ignited by a wildfire. To comply with this op-
tion, owners of structures shall:
(A) Have fire resistant roofing material;
(B) Have all permanent openings into and
under the structure completely covered with
noncombustible, corrosion -resistant, mesh
screening material, which has openings no
greater than 1/4 inch in size;
(C) Where there are attachments to the
structure, such as decks and porches:
(i) Maintain the area under the attach-
ments substantially free of firewood,
flammable building material, leaves,
needles, and other flammable mate-
rial; or
(ii) Cover openings to the area under
the attachments with noncombustible,
corrosion -resistant mesh screening ma-
terial, which has openings no greater
than 1 /4 inch in size;
(D) Remove any portion of a tree which
extends to within 10 feet of the outlet of a
structure chimney or a stove pipe;
(E) Maintain the portion of any tree which
overhangs a structure substantially free of
dead plant material; and
28
(F) During times of the year when wildfire
may be a threat, locate firewood, flammable
building material, and other similar flam-
mable material:
(i) At least 20 feet away from the
structure; or
(ii) In a fully enclosed space.
(b) Option 2, secondary fuel break. This option is
intended to provide additional separation between
structures and natural vegetation. To comply with
this option, owners of structures shalt provide and
maintain secondary fuel breaks which comply with
the requirements of OAR 629-044-1085 and which
are immediately adjacent to primary fuel breaks,
for the distance necessary to create a total fuel
break of 100 feet, or to the property line, which-
ever is the shortest distance. The distance shall be
measured along the slope and from the furthest
extension of the structure, including attached car-
ports, decks, or eaves.
(c) Option 3, wildfire safe access. This option is
intended to provide a more safe vehicle access to
and from structures during a wildfire. To comply
with this option, owners of a driveway shall provide
and maintain a primary fuel break which complies
with the requirements of O'AR 629-044-1085 and
which is immediately adjacent to a driveway for
a distance of ten feet from the centerline of the
driveway, or to the property line, whichever is the
shortest distance. The distance shall be measured
along the slope. Including the driving surface, a
fuel break shall result in an open area which is not
less than 13 1 /2 feet in height and 12 feet in width
or to the property line, whichever is the shortest
distance.
(d) Option 4, low ignition risk property. This option
is intended to reduce the likelihood of a wildfire
ignition. To comply with this option, owners shall at
all times use the following fire prevention prac-
tices:
(A) Open fires shalt be:
(i) Built, ignited and maintained in
compliance with all applicable permit
and fire safety requirements;
(ii) Tended and maintained under the
control of a person 16 years of age or
older;
(iii) Conducted only when weather
conditions permit safe burning;
Exhibit
(iv) Conducted in a location which has
had all surrounding material cleared of
flammable material sufficient to pre-
vent unintended spread of the fire; and
(v) Conducted only when adequate and
appropriate fire tools and/or a water
supply are present to assist in prevent-
ing unintended spread of the fire.
(B) Grills, incinerators, outdoor fireplaces,
permanent barbecues, and similar outdoor
devices shall be maintained in good repair, in
safe condition, and all openings shall normal-
ly be completely covered by a spark arrester,
by a screen, or by a device which prevents
unintended spread of a fire.
(C) Ashes and coals resulting from the use of
grills, incinerators, outdoor fireplaces, per-
manent barbecues, and similar outdoor de-
vices shall be disposed of in a manner which
prevents unintended spread of a fire.
(D) The use of outdoor equipment or devices
capable of generating heat, open flame, or
sparks shall be conducted in compliance with
all applicable permit and fire safety require-
ments; and
(E) Chimneys and stove pipes shall be used
only if their openings are completely covered
with a spark arrester which meets or exceeds
the following standard: constructed of 12 USA
standard gauge wire which has openings no
larger than 1 /2 inch in size.
(7) On all lands classified by a committee as High Density
Extreme, owners comply with the standards set forth in
OAR 629-044-1075.
629-044-1070 Alternate Standards
(1) Where structures exist on lands classified by a com-
mittee as Moderate, High, Extreme, or High Density
Extreme, owners shall comply with all standards de-
scribed in a cooperative agreement made pursuant to
ORS 477.406.
(2) Cooperative agreements which describe alternate
standards shall be valid only if:
(a) On forms provided by the State Forester or in a
format prescribed by the State Forester;
Administrative Rules
(b) Signed by the District Forester and by the
owner; and
(c) The alternate standards provide, in the judge-
ment of the District Forester, for equal or better
protection from wildfire than do the standards of
OAR 629-044-1060, 629-044-1065, and 629-044-1075
which apply to the classification of the lands for
which the cooperative agreement is made.
629-044-1075 Additional Standards For Lands Classified
As High Density Extreme
On all lands classified by a committee as High Density
Extreme, owners shall provide fuel breaks which comply
with the requirements of OAR 629-044-1085 and which
are immediately adjacent to all:
(1) Property lines, for a distance of twenty feet or an ad-
jacent property line, whichever is the shortest distance.
The distance shall be measured along the slope; and
(2) Roads, for a distance of at least twenty feet from the
side of every road, or to the property line, whichever is
the shortest distance. The distance shall be measured
along the slope and from the furthest extension of the
driving surface.
629-044-1085 Fuel Break Requirements
(1) The purpose of a fuel break is to:
(a) Slow the rate of spread and the intensity of an
advancing wildfire; and
(b) Create an area in which fire suppression opera-
tions may more safely occur.
(2) A fuel break shall be a natural or a human -made area
where material capable of allowing a wildfire to spread:
(a) Does not exist; or
(b) Has been cleared, modified, or treated in such a
way that the rate of spread and the intensity of an
advancing wildfire will be significantly reduced.
(3) A primary fuel break shall be comprised of one or
more of the following:
29
Exhibit R
's
Page� of3S
Administrative Rules
(a) An area of substantially non-flammable ground
cover. Examples include asphalt, bare soil, clover,
concrete, green grass, ivy, mulches, rock, succulent
ground cover, or wildflowers.
o�
(b) An area of dry grass which is maintained to an
average height of less than four inches.
(c) An area of cut grass, leaves, needles, twigs, and
other similar flammable materials, provided such
(a) Maintained in a green condition;
(b) Maintained substantially free of dead plant
material;
(c) Maintained free of ladder fuel;
(d) Arranged and maintained in such a way that
minimizes the possibility a wildfire can spread to
adjacent vegetation; and
materials do not create a continuous fuel bed and
are in compliance with the intent of subsections (1)
and (2) of this rule.
(d) An area of single specimens or isolated group-
ings of ornamental shrubbery, native trees, or other
plants, provided they are:
(A) Maintained in a green condition;
(B) Maintained substantially free of dead
plant material;
(C) Maintained free of ladder fuel;
(D) Arranged and maintained in such a way
that minimizes the possibility a wildfire can
spread to adjacent vegetation; and
(E) In compliance with the intent of subsec-
tions (1) and (2) of this rule.
(4) A secondary fuel break shall be comprised of single
specimens or isolated groupings of ornamental shrubbery,
native trees, or other plants, provided they are:
30
DC (_ee,'F(.RT POOR QUALITY
I ; i ::V i (J'PECIR-DING.
nmable plants
t to a house
cause serious
Mems if the
its catch fire. in
situation, if the
)rvitae plants
e to catch fire,
flames could blow
the windows,
ch would let
ies inside the
se. Also, the wood
ng could catch
, as could the
erside of the roof
a. Within minutes,
:h of the house
Id be aflame.
ition? Remove the
(e) In compliance with the intent of subsections (1)
and (2) of this rule.
629-044-1090 Apparent Conflicts With Standards
Pursuant to ORS 477.023:
(1) The standards set forth in OAR 629-044-1060 to 629-
044-1085 do not supersede or replace any federal law or
regulation, any other state agency law or regulation, or
any more restrictive local government ordinance or code.
(2) Apparent conflicts with other laws and regulations,
for which the forester is responsible and has jurisdic-
tion, shall be resolved within the scope of the forester's
authority and documented, as provided in OAR 629-044-
1070 or 629-044-1080.
Exhibit
of
(3) Compliance with OAR 629-044-1070 to 629-044-1080
does not relieve the owner of the requirements of any
other law or regulation which applies to the lands in
question.
629-044-1095 Written Evaluation
(1) Pursuant to ORS 477.059, the forester shall provide
to the owners of lands classified by a committee a copy
of OAR 629-044-1000 to 629-044-1110 and an evaluation
form:
(a) Two years before the obligations of ORS
477.059(4) become effective on the lands for the
first time;
(b) Every five years thereafter, and
(c) When requested by an owner.
(2) The intent of an evaluation form provided pursuant to
subsections (1), (5) or (6) of this rule is to allow owners
to self -certify compliance with the standards of OAR 629-
044-1060 to 629-044-1085. Completion and return of the
evaluation form to the forester is optional.
(3) In lieu of completing and returning an evaluation form
provided pursuant to subsections (1), (5) or (6) of this
rule, an owner may have it completed and returned by an
accredited assessor.
(4) Completed and returned evaluation forms shall be-
come void:
(a) Five years after they are provided by the for-
ester;
(b) When the ownership of a tax lot changes;
(c) When a structure is added to a tax lot; or
(d) Pursuant to a determination made in accor-
dance with the provisions of subsection (3) of OAR
629-044-1100.
(5) When the ownership of a tax lot changes, the previous
owner shall notify the new owner of the voiding of the
evaluation form under subsection (4)(b) of this rule. The
new owner may, as provided in subsection (1)(c) of this
rule,request that the forester provide a current copy of
OAR 629-044-1000 to 629-044-1110 and a new evaluation
form.
(6) When a structure is added to a tax lot, the owner
may request that the forester provide a current copy of
OAR 629-044-1000 to 629-044-1110 and a new evaluation
form.
Administrative Rules
629-044-1100 Certification
(1) An owner of lands classified by a committee shall be
considered to be certified as meeting the standards set
forth in OAR 629-044-1060 to 629-044-1085 if:
(a) They sign and return to the forester an evalua-
tion form provided pursuant to OAR 629-044-1095;
or
(b) They use the services of an Accredited Assessor
who signs and returns to the forester an evaluation
form provided pursuant to OAR 629-044-1095; and
(c) The evaluation form has not become void pursu-
ant to OAR 629-044-1095(4).
(2) The forester may make a determination of whether
the lands of an owner meet the standards set forth in
OAR 629-044-1060 to 629-044-1085 at any time following
the completion and return of an evaluation form provided
pursuant to OAR 629-044-1095. Such a determination
must be made prior to the occurrence of a wildfire on an
owners tax lot.
(3) If the forester determines that an evaluation form
provided pursuant to OAR 629-044-1095 was returned by
the owner and that it incorrectly or falsely indicated the
lands meet the standards set forth in OAR 629-044-1060
to 629-044-1085, the owner shall be notified in writ-
ing that both the evaluation form and the certification
granted under subsection (1) of this rule will become void
on a specified date. In making such a determination, the
forester shall:
(a) Not base the determination on technicalities
or omissions which, in the sole judgment of the
forester, are minor in nature; and
(b) First provide the owner a reasonable time to:
(A) Provide evidence that the property does
meet the standards set forth in OAR 629-044-
1060 to 629-044-1085; or
(B) Bring their property into compliance with
the standards set forth in OAR 629-044-1060
to 629-044-1085.
... More Web Resources
To read the entire set of administrative rules
for the Oregon Forestland -Urban Interface
Fire Protection Act, log onto arcweb.sos.
state. or. us/rules/OARS_600/OAR_629/629_
044. html
Exhibit
Page of
SKELETON FIRE, 1996, BEND. ODF PHOTO.
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OF/
aseSao
.—'affi.Ls.
SKELETON FIRE, 1996, BEND. ODF PHOTO.
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SKELETON FIRE, 1996, BEND. ODF PHOTO.
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Taxlot:
Classification:
ODF ID:
Property Address:
1. DEFAULT STANDARDS
2. Primary fuel break completed
COMPLETED?
YES REQ
OPTIONAL STANDARDSCOMPLETED?
11. Primary fuel break completed
YES!REQ
3. Secondary fuel break completed
YES
WA
12. Roadside and property line fuel breaks completed
YES
141A
4. Driveway fuel break completed
5. Chimney clearance established
YES
YES
NIA
NIA
=a
14. Fire-resistant structure
YES NIA
6. Dead vegetation above roof removed
YES
NIA
15. Secondary fuel break around structures
YES NIA
7. Burnable material under decks removed
YES
NIA
16. Wildfire -safe access
YES NiA
8. FirewoodRumber piles moved or covered
YES
N;A
17. Low ignition -risk property
YES NLA
9. Roadside and property line fuel breaks completed
19-Rv cion..,F L1........... -4., - ..______,..: ___.�_.
YES
_..
N A
..
YES
-_-- -- -- -- --• ••• �••• w.� r• •v ..,�6tl , aw nn:ers the standards and conaitions described in the Oregon Forestiand-Urban
Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997. Certification does not guarantee that structures on this property will survive a wildiand fire. Certification
relieves the property owner, for a period of five years, of liabilities described in ORS 477.059 (4), but does not relieve the property owner from
other responsibilities and liabilities described in other portions of ORS 477. Recertification must take place in 5 years, or when a structure is
added to the property, or when the property changes ownership. In the event that the ownership of this property changes, through sale or other
transaction, it is the responsibility of the current property owner to notify the new owner that he or she needs to recertify this property.
20. Certifier's signature
21. Certifier is (circle one): Property Owner
22. If accredited assessor, include identification number
Here are line -by-line instructions for
filling out the self -certification card. The
page number references are pages inside
the "Property Evaluation li Self -Certifica-
tion Guide for Deschutes County."
The self -certification card must be
returned to ODF no later than two years
after it was received. It must be signed
by the property owner or an accredited
assessor (see page 23, top of right-hand
column). For a list of accredited as-
sessors in Deschutes County, call (541)
549-6761.
To complete the card, check the
"Yes" box for each item you have com-
pleted. Check the "N/A" box for each
item that does not apply to your situa-
tion. Item 2 is required of everyone who
chooses to follow the Default Standards,
and item 11 is required of everyone who
chooses the Optional Standards. These
may only be left unchecked if item 18
is selected, and the Alternate Standards
plan has been approved by the district
forester.
For properties classified ''High -Den-
sity Extreme," roadside and pr6perty line
fuel breaks are required. For ''High -Den-
sity Extreme" properties with a struc-
ture, choose either the Default, Optional
or Alternate standards. For "High -Density
Extreme" properties without structures,
you may use only the Default standards.
Line 1: Default Standards. See page 7 of
your Guide.
Note: Owners of properties classified
"High -Density Extreme" that do not
have structures must follow the Default
standards.
Date
Accredited Assessor
Line 2: Primary fuel break. See page 8
of your Guide for more information.
Line 3: Secondary fuel break. See
page 9 of your Guide to see whether a
secondary fuel break is required on your
property, and how to calculate its size.
Line 4: Driveway fuel break. See page
14 for more information.
Line 5: Chimney clearance. See page 15
for more information.
Line 6: Dead vegetation above roof.
See page 15 of the Guide for more infor-
mation.
Line 7: Burnable material under decks.
See page 16.
Line 8: Firewood/lumber piles. See
page 17.
Line 9: Roadside and property line fuel
breaks. Properties classified ''High -Den-
sity Extreme" must create roadside and
property line fuel breaks. See page 18 of
the guide for more information.
Line 10: Optional Standards. See page
19 for more information.
Owners of properties classified "High -
Density Extreme" may choose the Op-
tional Standards only if the property has
at least one structure.
Line 11: Primary fuel break. See pages
8 and 19.
Line 12: Roadside and property line
fuel breaks. See page 18 of the Guide
for more information.
To complete your
certification:
1. Follow the fuel -
reduction standards
as explained in the
enclosed guide.
2. Check boxes on
the card as appropri-
ate and sign the bot-
tom of the card.
I Carefully remove
the card from this
page by tearing
along perforations.
4. Drop the postcard
in a mailbox.
Line 13: Choose options. See page 19 of
the Guide.
Line 14: Fire-resistant structure. See
page 20 of the Guide.
Line 15: Secondary fuel break. See
pages 9 and 19.
Line 16: Wildfire -safe access: See pages
14 and 19.
Line 17: Low ignition -risk property. See
page 24 of the Guide.
Line 18: Alternate Standards. See page
22.
Line 19. This paragraph summarizes the
obligations of certification. See more
about certification on page 31.
Line 20: Certifier's signature. A certi-
fication card can only be signed by the
property owner or an accredited asses-
sor. The date the card is signed must also
be included. See page 31.
Line 21. Circle whether the person who
signed the card is the property owner or
an accredited assessor.
Line 22: Accredited assessor ID num-
ber. If an accredited assessor signed the
certification card, then the assessors ODF
identification number must be written
here.
Questions?
If you have questions regarding your
certification, call the Oregon Department
of Forestry at (541) 549-6761.
Exhibit
Page 5-1 of
SAMPLE.
NO POSTAG
NECESSAR
IF MAILED
IN THE
UNITED STAT
BUSINESS REPLY MAIL
FIRST-CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 112 SALEM OR
POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY
PO BOX 190
SISTERS OR 97759-9910
DO YOU OWNA VACANT LOT? If so this information is for you.
The Oregon Forestland -Urban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997.is an important first step toward establishing
"defensible space" for homes located in or near forestlands. To date a high percentage of homeowners have met or
exceeded the standards, and to that end we are encouraged; however, there remains more to be done.
Under the act's current treatment standards only unimproved lots that are classified as "high density extreme" are requi
to construct a fuel break around the boundaries of the property and along adjacent roadways. Other undeveloped lots
that fall into the classifications of "high" and "extreme" are not required to meet these treatment standards and as such
are exempt.
There are several actions currently under consideration to expand the treatment standards to all vacant lots. Deschutes
County is developing a "draft" ordinance that would require landowners to treat vacant lots. Also the Oregon Board of
Forestry is reviewing testimony from several homeowner groups that have requested all vacant lots be included in the
Forestland -Urban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997.
No one knows the outcome of these proposed changes, only time will tell. However, as an owner of lands associated with
the vast, fire prone, interface areas of the West it is prudent to take precautions to prevent the spread of wildfire. The
fires we are currently experiencing in central Oregon are hard to control, often exhibiting extreme fire behavior such as
torching, crowning, and long range spotting, all of which threaten the very communities we live in. Your assistance in
helping us achieve the goal of creating a safer, and more defensible central Oregon is appreciated.
We at the Oregon Department of Forestry encourage all landowners to reduce surface fuels, remove dead trees, limb
live trees and in general reduce the opportunity for wildfire to spread through their property to.other areas. For more
information on this important issue please contact Oregon Department of Forestry at (541).549-6761, or the fire
department nearest to your property.
Thank you,
Robert Young, District Forester
Exhibit
Paae of.