New wildfire prevention rules could override building restrictions in Oregon
New wildfire-resistant building standards are taking effect across Central Oregon, requiring fire-hardened materials in new home construction. The measure allows homeowners to install fire-hardened building materials, such as cement siding, or to replace materials on their properties, such as wood fences, with materials proven to withstand fire.
The new wildfire mitigation standards were created through a partnership among homebuilders, the insurance industry and fire and life safety professionals to prevent homes from burning down.
“They’ve identified the real key factors there. That typically is around siding, decking, roofing and ventilation to prevent ember showers from catching siding on fire or the adjacent land right next to it from catching on fire or catching siding and from embers getting up into attics through ventilation systems,” said Garrett Mosher, Central Oregon Builders Association Government Affairs Director.
The codes are now in effect on new construction in Bend, Sisters and Deschutes County.
“A spark can enter a vent from a long ways away. And so, to the extent we can improve those building materials and improve the landscaping around homes. What we are doing is reducing the risk of a structure fire in that wildland urban interface,” said Sen. Anthony Broadman, D-Bend, a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1551, which brought the rules to the state level. “These are the tools we know that work to keep communities like Bend and Redmond and Sisters safe.”
