Wildfire season is no longer a late-July phenomenon in the Pacific Northwest. With the Oregon Department of Forestry declaring fire season on June 15, active fires already burning from Spokane to Riggins to Kellogg, and critical fire weather in the forecast, residents across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho should treat this week as a preparedness checkpoint.

Sign Up for Emergency Alerts

The single most important step you can take is ensuring you will receive official evacuation orders when they are issued. Each state has its own notification system:

  • Oregon: OR-Alert at oregon.gov/oem
  • Washington: Alert Sense and county-specific systems -- check your county emergency management website
  • Idaho: PBS Warn, operated by the Idaho Office of Emergency Management

Also enable Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on your cell phone -- these require no sign-up and will push evacuation orders directly to your device.

Know Your Evacuation Zone and Route

Most counties in fire-prone areas use a three-level evacuation system:

  • Level 1 (Be Ready): Be aware and prepare to leave. Monitor conditions closely.
  • Level 2 (Be Set): Have your go-kit packed and be ready to leave within minutes.
  • Level 3 (Go Now): Leave immediately. Do not wait for official contact.

Know your zone before a fire starts. Many counties have online lookup tools where you can enter your address and find your evacuation zone designation.

Your Go-Kit: What to Have Ready

A go-kit should be packed and easily accessible. Include:

  • At least 72 hours of medications (ideally two weeks)
  • Important documents: IDs, insurance cards, deed/lease, bank info (originals in a waterproof bag or a USB drive with scans)
  • Cash in small bills
  • Phone charger and backup battery
  • Change of clothes for each family member
  • Pet carriers, food, and vaccination records for pets
  • N95 masks for smoke protection
  • Water (one gallon per person per day for three days)

Defensible Space

If you have not yet cleared vegetation around your home, the time to do it is now -- not the day a fire is heading your way. Oregon, Washington, and Idaho all have defensible space requirements for homes in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). Zone 1 (0-30 feet) should be irrigated, low-fuel landscaping. Zone 2 (30-100 feet) should have reduced fuel density with spacing between tree crowns.

For more information, contact your county extension office or visit the NFPA Firewise USA program at nfpa.org/firewise.