Yearly checklist

Wildfire protection is not a one-time job. Leaves fall, grass grows and things pile up against the house. A couple of afternoons a year keeps your home ready. Print this page and check things off.

Before fire season (spring)

• Clean leaves and needles out of the gutters and off the roof.
• Replace missing or loose shingles.
• Check that vent screens are in place and not torn. Embers can blow in through vents and burn the house from inside.
• Clear the first 5 feet around the house: no bark mulch, dry leaves or plants that burn easily.
• Clear out under the deck and porch.
• Move firewood and lumber at least 30 feet from the house.
• Trim tree branches up 6 feet or more from the ground, and remove dead branches that hang over the roof.
• Remove dead plants, dead branches and brush under trees.
• Keep 10 feet clear around the propane tank.
• Trim trees and brush along the driveway so a fire engine fits, and check that the gate opens.
• Make sure your address sign can be seen from the road in both directions.
• Pack or update each person's go bag, and check that medicines haven't expired.
• Update photos or a video of every room for your insurance.
• Sign up for your county's emergency alerts.

During fire season (summer)

• Keep grass mowed under 4 inches.
• Sweep leaves and needles off the roof, deck and the first 5 feet as they fall.
• Keep doormats, cushions and trash cans away from the exterior walls on hot, windy days. A flying ember can land on a doormat and start a fire.
• Check the fire danger level and burning rules before you burn, mow dry grass or build a campfire. Burning yard debris causes more human-caused wildfires than anything else.

After fire season (fall)

• Clean the gutters again after the leaves come down.
• Plan bigger jobs for the off-season: a metal section of fence next to the house, vent covers, closing in eaves, or a new Class A roof.
• Ask your fire department whether it offers home checks before next season. Find your nearest fire station.

Why each step matters: how homes catch fire, the three zones, making your home harder to ignite, access for fire engines and getting ready to leave, each with its sources.

Sources for the reasons on this page: Oregon home hardening guide, IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home, Oregon State University Extension.