How to Get Your Home Ready for Fire Season in Oregon: Homeowners Insurance Tips

Every summer, wildfire season brings anxiety to homeowners across Oregon. From the dry forests of Southern Oregon to the urban edges of Portland and Eugene, fire risks continue to rise each year. Preparing your home before fire season is not just about safety—it’s also about protecting your investment and making sure your homeowners insurance provides the coverage you need.

Here are key steps you can take to prepare your home for Oregon’s fire season:

1. Create Defensible Space Around Your Home

Wildfires spread quickly when they have fuel, and your landscaping could be the first thing that catches fire. A defensible space is a buffer you create between your home and flammable vegetation.

• Zone 1 (0-5 feet): Remove all dead plants, mulch, firewood stacks, or anything flammable directly next to your home.
• Zone 2 (5-30 feet): Trim trees, clear leaves, and space out shrubs to reduce fire intensity.
• Zone 3 (30-100 feet): Thin out trees and underbrush to slow fire spread.

By creating these zones, you reduce the chances of your home catching fire from embers or direct flames.

2. Harden Your Home Against Embers

Wind-driven embers are one of the top ways wildfires ignite homes. Simple upgrades can significantly reduce your risk:

• Install metal mesh screens over attic vents and crawl spaces.
• Upgrade to Class A fire-rated roofing materials.
• Seal gaps in siding and around windows or doors.
• Replace wooden fences attached to the house with non-combustible materials.

Insurers often recognize these improvements and may result in lower premiums or improved coverage options.

3. Review Your Homeowners’ Insurance Policy

Before fire season, it is the perfect time to sit down and review your homeowners’ insurance policy. Ask your agent:

• Do I have replacement cost coverage or actual cash value?
• Is my personal property coverage up-to-date?
• Do I have additional living expense (ALE) coverage if I’m displaced?

Make sure your policy limits reflect current home values and rebuilding costs, which have risen across Oregon in recent years due to labor and material shortages.

4. Create a Home Inventory

A documented inventory of your possessions will make the insurance claims process much smoother if disaster strikes. Walk through your home and take photos or video of each room. Save this documentation to the cloud or an off-site location.

Include details like make, model, purchase date, and value of big-ticket items like appliances, furniture, electronics, and jewelry.

5. Sign Up for Local Alerts and Fire Warnings

Many Oregon counties offer emergency alert systems you can sign up for via text or email. Stay connected to organizations like the Oregon Department of Forestry and your local fire district so you’re not caught off guard.

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Fire season in Oregon is a serious threat, but you can take action to minimize risk and prepare for the worst. Along with securing your property and landscaping, reviewing your homeowners’ insurance is one of the most critical steps. The right coverage can provide peace of mind and a quicker recovery in the event of a wildfire.

Stay safe, stay prepared—and talk to your insurance provider before fire season heats up.

For an affordable homeowners insurance quote, contact us today by calling (541) 318-8835 or click here to connect with us online.