SALEM, OR -- Money is now available to help Oregonians in the most wildfire-prone areas improve their property's defensible space. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office calls it an incentive for people to get a free Defensible Space Assessment. Assistant Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Chad Hawkins tells KBND News, "Through the Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Funds that were part of Senate Bill 762, back in 2021, there was a small pilot funded that allocated funds for folks to be able to request those assessments."

OSFM is now sending $250 Visa gift cards to property owners and renters who complete an assessment and live in one of 50 eligible cities, including Redmond, Prineville, Madras, Terrebonne, Culver, La Pine and Warm Springs. Hawkins says the list includes communities primarily in Central and Southern Oregon, "Obviously, where a lot of our high wildfire risk is, inherently, based on those fuel models, the weather and topography." He adds, "Those residents could really use some assistance in improving their defensible space. Again, it’s all contingent on them asking for that assessment, us coming out and doing the assessment."

Assessments are available from OSFM or a number of local fire agencies. Hawkins says, "We’ll do the assessment and if we find two or more deficiencies - maybe some trees that need limbing up or some of that dead and dying material on the ground needs to be cleaned up - if we click two or more of those recommended boxes, then on the back end, OSFM would send out that Defensible Space Incentive Reimbursement card."

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