Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
The Santiam Canyon Long Term Recovery Group has $242,000 on hand to assist Canyon residents with creating defensible space around their homes.
The funds come from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, with the recovery group authorized to reimburse defensible space expenses of up to $2,420 for work done on a primary residence.
Defensible space refers to actions that reduce the amount of hazardous vegetation and combustible material around a building. Such upgrades give the home an increased chance of surviving a wildfire, even if firefighters cannot reach the home, increase the chances occupants will survive a wildfire and help allow for efficient evacuations.
A classic example of a defensible space issue is storing firewood right next to the home. That is a classic no-no.
“Your home is less likely to completely go up in flames if you have established defensible space,” said Kevin Dial, recovery manager of the SCLTRG. “Most people really want to do it. They don’t want to go through 2020 again.”
Dial was referring to the Labor Day 2020 wildfires that tore through the Santiam Canyon, burning more than 400,000 acres, destroying more than 1,500 structures and killing five people. Detroit and Gates suffered major damage, with Idanha, Mill City, Mehama, Lyons and Elkhorn also affected.
“It’s a great time of year to get this work done around your home,” said Deana Freres, board president of the SCLTRG. “It’s really going to make a difference.”
Here is a look at how the program works:
• You must be a property owner with a primary residential structure within the SCLTRG service area, which includes Lyons, Mehama, Mill City, Gates, Detroit, Idanha, Breitenbush and the North Fork-Elkhorn corridor. Zip codes that apply are 97384, 97358, 97360, 97346, 97342 and 97350.
• You must complete a defensible space assessment by working with an OSFM trained assessor and provide photos. Go to https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/138a924877f145a984ea3b4108edb3ec/ to schedule your assessment. This step should be done first.
• Have receipts for expenses incurred to implement the recommendations of the assessment.
• The reimbursements can include paying for labor provided by the individual homeowner. Tools are available at the Santiam Canyon Tool Library at the Gates Community Church, 40070 Gates School Road (email: [email protected]). Also, the SCLTRG can help put together work parties and volunteer groups to help with your property. For more information email [email protected] or call 503-897-0701.
Additionally, the Stayton Fire District is using a grant of its own to operate a pickup trailer, which will haul away the yard debris from your defensible space project for free.
Homeowners must go through the required OSFM/SCLTRG assessment process and then contact Stayton Fire at 503-769-2601 to make arrangements for the trailer.
FIRE DEFENSE
Defensible space is the buffer created between a home and the grass, trees, shrubs or any wildland in the surrounding area. Proper defensible space can slow or stop the spread of wildfire and help protect the home.
