May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and with fire conditions deteriorating across the Pacific Northwest earlier than usual this year, officials are urging residents in fire-prone areas to take concrete preparedness steps now — while there is still time to act before the peak of fire season arrives.

Nationally, the 2026 fire year is already tracking well above average, with nearly 1.9 million acres burned through mid-May. Oregon, Washington, and Idaho are facing a convergence of drought, record low snowpack, and forecast dryness that has fire managers warning of a potentially severe summer ahead.

Create Defensible Space

Defensible space — the buffer between your home and the surrounding vegetation — is one of the most effective ways to improve a structure’s chance of surviving a wildfire. The basic framework:

  • Zone 1 (0–30 feet from structure): Remove dead and dry vegetation, maintain low-growing plants, keep grass mowed short, clear roof gutters and eaves of leaves and debris, remove firewood piles from immediately adjacent to the house
  • Zone 2 (30–100 feet from structure): Reduce plant density and spacing, remove ladder fuels (shrubs under trees), cut branches to at least 6–10 feet from the ground, clear dry grass and brush

Harden Your Home

Embers carried by wind can travel a mile or more ahead of a fire front and ignite homes through vents, gaps, and combustible materials. Home hardening measures include:

  • Install ember-resistant vents or cover existing vents with 1/16-inch metal mesh
  • Clear debris from under decks and porches, or enclose with noncombustible materials
  • Replace wood or vinyl siding with fire-resistant alternatives in highest-risk areas
  • Use dual-pane or tempered glass windows, which better resist radiant heat
  • Store propane tanks and flammable materials away from structures

Prepare to Evacuate

Evacuation orders can come with very little warning. Having a plan in place before a fire threatens is essential:

  • Know your evacuation zones: Look up your address on your county emergency management website to identify your evacuation zone designation
  • Have multiple routes: Identify at least two ways out of your neighborhood; one may be blocked by fire or traffic
  • Prepare a go-bag: Include copies of critical documents, medications, phone chargers, water, cash, a change of clothes, and essential personal items for at least 72 hours
  • Register for alerts: Sign up for your county’s emergency alert system (CodeRED, Nixle, or county-specific systems) and make sure your contact information is current
  • Plan for pets and livestock: Have trailers, carriers, and supplies ready; identify boarding or shelter options in advance

Stay Informed

When a fire is burning in your area, reliable information can be the difference between a safe evacuation and a dangerous one:

  • Follow your county emergency management agency on social media
  • Bookmark Oregon’s OSFM Interactive Maps (osfminfo.org) for real-time evacuation levels and fire perimeters
  • Monitor InciWeb (inciweb.wildfire.gov) for official incident updates on large fires
  • Listen to local radio stations, which continue to broadcast during power outages

Start Now

The best time to complete defensible space work is before fire season is at its peak — both because the risk is lower during the work itself, and because it allows time to address any issues before conditions become extreme. Fire officials across the Pacific Northwest are urging residents not to wait until the first evacuation order to begin thinking about preparedness. That moment will be too late.