Wildfire Awareness Month: What Pacific Northwest Families Need to Do Right Now

May is Wildfire Awareness Month — a national observance coordinated by the National Interagency Fire Center to encourage communities, landowners, and outdoor enthusiasts to take concrete fire preparedness steps before peak fire season arrives. For residents of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, the message has added urgency this year: conditions across the Pacific Northwest are setting up for what could be one of the most demanding fire seasons in recent memory.

Know Your Zone

The most important thing any household can do is understand their evacuation zone and know what action is required at each level. The Pacific Northwest uses a three-tier Ready, Set, Go! system:

Level 1 — Ready: Be aware and prepared. Monitor conditions and have your go-bag ready.
Level 2 — Set: Be prepared to leave immediately. Ensure vulnerable family members and livestock are already moved out.
Level 3 — Go!: Leave immediately. Do not wait. Do not return until authorities say it is safe.

Find your evacuation zone now — before there is a fire — at your county's emergency management website or through AlertWA.gov (Washington), Oregon.gov/OEM (Oregon), or idalert.idaho.gov (Idaho).

Create Defensible Space

Defensible space is the buffer zone between a home and surrounding vegetation that gives firefighters a place to work and helps prevent flames from reaching your structure. Oregon, Washington, and Idaho all have specific defensible space requirements for properties in wildland-urban interface zones:

Zone 1 (0–30 feet): Lean, clean, and green. Remove dead vegetation, space plants widely, eliminate ladder fuels.
Zone 2 (30–100 feet): Reduce fuel density. Space trees and shrubs, remove dead wood, maintain low-growing groundcover.

Harden Your Home

Research shows that most homes lost in wildfires are ignited by embers — not direct flame contact. Ember-proofing measures that can significantly improve survival odds include: replacing wood shake roofs, screening attic and crawlspace vents, sealing gaps in eaves and soffits, replacing combustible deck materials, and keeping wooden fencing from connecting directly to the home's exterior.

Avoid Human-Caused Ignitions

The majority of wildfires in the United States are human-caused. This fire season, be especially careful about:

Campfires and warming fires — check local restrictions before lighting any fire outdoors
Towing trailers and equipment — trailer chains dragging on pavement create sparks
Parking on dry grass — catalytic converters can ignite vegetation beneath vehicles
Power equipment and mowing — avoid using spark-generating equipment during hot, dry, windy conditions
Fireworks — banned on all BLM lands in Oregon and Washington starting May 14

Build Your Go-Bag

When a Level 3 evacuation order is issued, you may have minutes — not hours — to leave. A go-bag packed in advance takes decision-making out of the equation. Include: important documents (IDs, insurance, prescriptions), medications, phone chargers, water and food for 72 hours, clothing, and items for any pets or livestock.