Oregon State Fire Marshal

What Will It Take To Protect Oregon Homes From Wildfires?
What Will It Take To Protect Oregon Homes From Wildfires?
What Will It Take To Protect Oregon Homes From Wildfires?
The Oregon Legislature is looking at how homeowners can maintain their insurance in high fire risk areas.  Kenton Brine, with the Northwest Insurance Council, said disaster losses have skyrocketed for insurance companies.   "Losses related to natural disasters, just natural disasters, were $168 billion in 2023 and $182 billion in 2024."   In C...
Plan Now For The Wildfire Season
Plan Now For The Wildfire Season
Plan Now For The Wildfire Season
Fire officials urge everyone across the Northwest to prepare properties now for the wildfire season ahead.  Oregon’s Office of State Fire Marshal has for years encouraged everyone to create defensible space, but Assistant Chief Deputy Chad Hawkins said seemingly minor mistakes could make a big difference this fire season.  He said peopl...
OSFM Preparing For Wildfire Season
OSFM Preparing For Wildfire Season
OSFM Preparing For Wildfire Season
California’s devastating wildfires serve as a reminder for those across the Northwest to prepare their properties for the upcoming fire season.  An Oregon State Fire Marshal program providing property assessments is getting more popular, as more Oregonians work to create defensible space ahead of the next wildfire.   “Over ...
Oregon Officials Say This the New Norm For Fires
Oregon Officials Say This the New Norm For Fires
Oregon Officials Say This the New Norm For Fires
This has been a record setting year for wildfires in Oregon, and fire officials say it's the new norm.  Kyle Williams, director of forest protection for the Oregon Department of Forestry, said he thought this was going to be an average year for wildfires, until the heat wave.   ...
Oregon Wildfire Season Comes To A Close Saturday
Oregon Wildfire Season Comes To A Close Saturday
Oregon Wildfire Season Comes To A Close Saturday
Much of the Northwest has seen some precipitation and cooler temperatures over that past week.  And become of that, the Oregon Department of Forestry announced that Fire Season officially comes to an end on Saturday.  ODF’s Jessica Prakke said despite predictions, the 2022 fire season turned out fairly tame.   "Our detection s...
Oregon Wildfire Season Not As Bad As It Could Be
Oregon Wildfire Season Not As Bad As It Could Be
Oregon Wildfire Season Not As Bad As It Could Be
While a number of wildfires continue to burn across Oregon, state officials say they have not seen the mega-fires that were anticipated when the fire season started.  Christie Shaw with the Oregon State Fire Marshal said because of a lack of massive wildfires, to date, they’ve been able to be proactive when it comes to fighting the current blazes and where they put personnel.   “...
OSFM Looks To Develop New Defensible Space Code
OSFM Looks To Develop New Defensible Space Code
OSFM Looks To Develop New Defensible Space Code
Oregon’s State Fire Marshal’s Office is taking public feedback as the agency develops new statewide code for defensible space.  OSFM’s Allison Green said they’ve heard concerns from farmers and ranchers in areas that might be considered at high or extreme risk for wildfires, which would trigger potential future code enforcement.   “We have folks here...