Home Assessment Program
In 2023, Monroe Rural Fire Protection District was awarded a Community Risk Reduction Grant. Funded by the Oregon State Fire Marshal and SB762. This program was developed as a way to reach out to community members of the district and offer a chance to assess your property and home in return for a $100 voucher (in the form of pre-paid card) *payment of voucher is subject to eligibility. We believe the program will bring awareness to the community through this funding opportunity and further prepare residents in case of a wildfire. The program will be active through 2025 or until funding runs out.
Please use the information below to prepare your home and create defensible space. If you would like to request an assessment of your property and take part in the program. Please follow the link, submit your information and someone from the Monroe Fire District will contact you to schedule your assessment. We do collect minimal data and provide you with a report on our findings.
Defensible space is the buffer area you create between your home or business and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surrounds it. Embers are the leading cause of home loss during a wildfire. They can travel up to three miles ahead of the main flame front. To reduce the chances of embers or flames igniting your yard or home, be thoughtful about which plants you choose, the landscape arrangement, and the outdoor furniture. Well-maintained defensible space can give your home an increased chance of surviving a wildfire, even if firefighters cannot reach your home. Even though defensible space can significantly increase the chances of your home surviving a wildfire, it does not guarantee that a building will not be lost or damaged during a wildfire.
More importantly, creating defensible space around homes and businesses can increase the life safety of the people occupying those buildings during a potential wildfire event. In a wildfire event, the more prepared a property is with defensible space, the more efficiently evacuations can occur, and the more effectively firefighters can respond.
To start, look at your home to make sure combustible materials like dried pine needles, and leaves are removed from gutters, eaves, and around your chimney.
Prune your tree limbs several feet off the ground to help avoid fire from getting into the tree crowns.
Keep patios clean of dry combustible materials during times of high fire danger.
Remove flammable items like outdoor furniture cushions when you aren’t using them.
If possible, keep combustible materials such as wood piles 30 feet away from your home.
Make sure bushes around your home are pruned and not touching the siding.
Creating a defensible space plan for your home and business does not mean creating a moonscape. These plans can include trees, bushes, and other plants if they are pruned and trimmed properly. Fire-resistant plants can also be a great addition to your yard. These plants are high in moisture content and low in oils. Fire-resistant plants range from ground covers to trees that can bring a beautiful, healthy landscape without sacrificing safety. Trees don’t have to be off-limits; be thoughtful about where they are planted in your yard and what is growing underneath them.
Trees and vegetation should be 10 feet from powerlines.
Trees and vegetation should be 10 feet from buildings and chimneys.
Trees and vegetation should be 10 feet from other trees.
Trees and vegetation more than 18 feet tall, remove limbs up to six feet.
Trees and vegetation less than 18 feet tall, remove limbs up to 1/3 the height.
Steps to Create Defensible Space
To start, look at your home to make sure combustible materials like dried pine needles, and leaves are removed from gutters, eaves, and around your chimney.
Limb trees several feet off the ground to help avoid fire from getting into the tree crowns.
Keep patios clean of dry combustible materials during times of high fire danger.
Remove flammable items like outdoor furniture cushions.
If possible, keep dry wood piles and construction debris 30 feet away from your home.
Make sure bushes around your home are limbed and not touching the siding.
Roofs and gutters are clean from leaves, conifer needles, and other debris.
Flammable vegetation is removed from growing directly under the eaves. A minimum of five feet from the structure is recommended.
Exterior attic vents, soffit vents, and areas below decks and patios are covered with 1/8″ metal wire mesh.
Siding and skirting are in good condition.
Leaves, conifer needles, deadwood, bark mulch, and other debris removed from the surface of, around, and below decks and fences.
Fence attachments to the structure have a noncombustible alternative such as a metal gate or fence.
Participant eligibility:
Participant must live within the Monroe Rural Fire Protection District Boundaries.
Participant must request and receive a home assessment, conducted by Monroe Fire District personnel.
Participant must own the property being requested.
Must be 18 years of age or older.
Participants that qualify must opt-in to receive a $100 voucher.
*Incentive payment:
Upon completion of assessment, eligible participants will receive a $100 Voucher by mail from Monroe Rural Fire District. Please allow up to 12 weeks for the voucher to arrive.
A $100 voucher is intended to encourage residents to implement the recommendations received during the assessment to enhance the defensibility of their property.