In Salem, Oregon, a striking demonstration by the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) showcased the stark contrast between a standard home and one designed to withstand wildfires. A model home constructed following IBHS’s Wildfire Prepared Home standard survived with minimal damage, while its neighbor, lacking those safeguards, was razed in record time, as reported by the Oregon State Fire Marshal.
With fire season looming and the memory of last year's devastating 1.9 million acres burned still fresh, officials are pushing for greater resistance measures; during the live burn, State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple highlighted that "Wildfire is no longer a rural issue or something that affects just one region of the state; it’s a growing threat for all Oregonians," according to a statement obtained by the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Newsroom. Moreover, embers, a common ignition source during wildfires, were thwarted by a defensible, noncombustible five-foot perimeter in place around the resilient property.
Oregonians now have the opportunity to attain IBHS's Wildfire Prepared Home designation, encouraging protective measures such as Class A roofs and ember-resistant vents. Roy Wright, CEO of IBHS, exhorted the importance of following research-based solutions, asserting that maintaining a noncombustible zone doesn't mean sacrificing aesthetic appeal for safety, with this wisdom shared in an interview found on the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Newsroom.
The live burn demonstration paints a clear 'before and after' with the house that burned featuring easily ignitable bark mulch, combustible cedar planks, and open eaves; the house that survived implemented cement pavers, fire-resistant siding, and clear gutters, demonstrating effective ways people can protect their homes without incurring overwhelming costs, Oregon homeowners looking to learn more about defensible space strategies and how to earn a wildfire prepared designation can find resources and information at oregondefensiblespace.org and wildfireprepared.org respectively, as per the Oregon State Fire Marshal.
Oregon’s acting insurance commissioner, TK Keen, cited the collaboration between the Oregon State Fire Marshal, IBHS, and the Division of Financial Regulation, hailing this interplay as the "next evolution" in their work to mitigate fire risks and to guide insurance practices based on scientific data.
