News Releases
CONTACT: Katie Lighthall, Program Director, FireFree 541-322-7129
This past weekend marked the first FireFree weekend at Knott Landfill for residents to dispose of yard waste for FREE in an effort to create and maintain defensible space around homes – in the “Home Ignition Zone”.
Bend area residents responded to the challenge this weekend by bringing 5,732 cubic yards of flammable yard waste to Knott Landfill - a 10% increase over 2010!
Residents on Bend’s west side took advantage of the convenient West Side Collection Site and recycled 2,250 cubic yards of pine needles and other debris – about par for the first weekend.
Sunriver area residents brought 726 cubic yards to the Sunriver Compost Site –increasing their total by 111% over last year!
Residents in Jefferson County also responded to the FireFree challenge by bringing 115 cubic yards of yard debris to Box Canyon Transfer Station in Madras over the weekend.
The overall total collected for the first round of FireFree events was 8,823 cubic yards – a 13% increase over 2010!
“The Home Ignition Zone is the most vulnerable part of residential property when a wildfire is nearby”, states FireFree Program Coordinator Katie Lighthall. “Individual homeowners are our greatest resource when it comes to protecting structures in the event of a wildfire”.
A home is more at risk from fire damage caused by glowing embers that ignite pine needles and other debris on roofs, in gutters and under decks than from damage caused by advancing flames. “Reducing this structural vulnerability by cleaning up a 30-100 foot zone around your home is the number one way to help protect the homes of central Oregon residents,” recommends Lighthall.
Lighthall reminds residents to visit www.FireFree.org for more information about preparing your home for wildfire season.
FireFree allows residents of Central Oregon the opportunity to dump yard waste and debris at no charge at area landfills and transfer stations in Deschutes and Jefferson Counties.
Debris will be accepted at the Knott Landfill in Bend all this week through Saturday May 12. Hours are 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
The West Side Collection Site on Simpson Ave in Bend will accept debris Friday & Saturday May 11 & 12. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
The transfer stations in Redmond, Sisters and La Pine will accept debris Friday and Saturday May 18 & 19 only. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Please remember to cover your loads! Drivers of uncovered loads and loads that lose debris along the roadways are subject to a large fine. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will be on patrol during the Free Recycle Days.
For participating residents, please note that sod, manure, lumber or other wood products and land clearing debris are not permitted free of charge during these clean up days. They will be accepted although regular rates for these materials will apply.
FireFree is a public education campaign designed to increase resident participation in wildfire defense and to mitigate losses due to wildfire. The annual clean up days are a key part of involving area residents in removing debris from around their homes and property, and increasing awareness about other steps they can take to reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfires reaching homes and neighborhoods.
For more information about FireFree activities in your area, call your local fire department or the FireFree office at 541-322-7129.
CONTACT: Susan Baker, Deschutes Recycling, 541-323-4069
Katie Lighthall, FireFree Coordinator, 541-322-7129
November 1st through November 13th, (closed Sunday Nov. 7th) residents can recycle their yard debris at Deschutes Recycling for HALF PRICE - only $2.00 per cubic yard. The yard debris will be recycled into compost and clean energy fuel.
FireFree encourages residents to complete their fall clean up and maintenance of defensible space by bringing braches, leaves, shrubs and pine needles to Deschutes Recycling during this event.
Residents can take advantage of this event as an alternative to fall burning and recycle the combustible vegetation inside the 30-100 feet of defensible space around their homes.
"Burning yard debris is no longer allowed inside the city limits of Bend so FireFree provides this opportunity for Bend residents to recycle their debris inexpensively and legally," says Katie Lighthall, FireFree Coordinator.
"This is a great opportunity to partner with FireFree in offering a 50% discount off yard debris recycling. We hope residents will be able to clean up their fall leaves and pine needles and help provide a safe FireFree space around their homes," says Brad Bailey, President of Deschutes Recycling.
Deschutes Recycling is open Monday - Saturday
7:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
61050 SE 27th Street, Bend
Remember, Deschutes Recycling and Knott Landfill are closed on Sundays.
CONTACT: Dan Derlacki, Deputy Fire Marshal
Larry Medina, Fire Inspector
City of Bend Fire Department
(541) 322-6309
Outdoor debris burning opened today, October 13 for areas within Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2, with the exception of areas within the city limits of Bend as City Ordinance 5.295 has banned back yard debris burning within the city limits of Bend. Open burning in the Rural Fire District #2 around Bend will be open until fire season of next year.
Campfires, recreational fires, warming fires and cooking fires may be permitted within the city of Bend and in the Rural Fire District #2 as long as the proper safety precautions are followed, as outlined in the Bend Fire Department Burning Regulations. Contact your local fire agency for the burning regulations in your area.
As a reminder, debris burning regulations may vary between governmental jurisdictions within the Central Oregon area. Please contact your local fire agency for specific requirements and restrictions.
As an alternative to burning yard debris, fire agencies within Deschutes County recommend that residents participate in the Project Wildfire Fire Sale October 31st through November 15th at the Knott Landfill. During the 16 days of the Fire Sale, Knott Landfill will accept yard debris for just $2 per yard! Many area garbage companies also offer curbside pickup of yard debris for a minimal charge.
Burning regulations for the City of Bend and Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2 may be picked up at the nearest fire station. Information about the Deschutes Recycling Center at Knott Landfill Fire Sale and other alternatives to burning can be found on our web site, www.ci.bend.or.us
For More Information:
Chief Tay Robertson, COFCA President
Phone: 541-549-0771
Summer fire restrictions begin June 1, 2008 for Cities and Fire District’s within Deschutes County. Commercial and backyard debris burning will close Saturday, May 31st at dusk. State and Federal wildfire protection agencies may continue to allow burning with restrictions.
Sisters / Camp Sherman Fire Chief Tay Robertson said due to warming Message From
The Manager and the drying of wildland vegetation, fire agencies have seen an increase of uncontrolled fires, therefore Rural Fire Districts and Cities within Deschutes County will go into a regulated burning closure and declare Fire Season to begin June 1 at 12:00 AM. Campfires and other types of small recreational fires may be permitted when safety regulations are in compliance and with approval from your local fire protection agency.
As a reminder to all central Oregon residents, Chief Robertson advises that regulations may vary between fire protection jurisdictions. Please contact your local, state or federal fire agency for specific requirements and closures.
CONTACT: Gary Marshall, Deputy Chief / Fire Marshal Bend Fire & Rescue 541-322-6308 Tay Robertson, Fire Chief Sisters – Camp Sherman RFPD 541-549-0771 Tom Fay, Manager Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2 541-322-6377
On October 23, 2007, three of Central Oregon’s top fire management participated in the National Blue Ribbon Panel on Wildland Urban Interface Fire in Washington, D.C. Deputy Chief Gary Marshall from Bend Fire & Rescue, Fire Chief Taylor Robertson from Sisters – Camp Sherman Fire District and Tom Fay, Manager of Rural Fire District #2 and Co-Chair of Project Wildfire collaborated with the national group to address wildland urban interface issues in America.
Sponsored by the International Code Council, the Blue Ribbon Panel invited members of over 40 national organizations such as the Red Cross, the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Counties and multiple fire suppression and prevention agencies to identify key wildland urban interface issues and recommend improvements in national, state and local coordination for this escalating problem. Based on comments received from the public and participating organizations, the panel is providing an overview of key components that will be addressed in detail in the final draft of the Blue Ribbon Panel Report.
With combined experience and expertise dealing with wildland urban interface issues, the three Chiefs contributed to the development of the Blue Ribbon Panel Report, due by the end of the year.
“Population densities are continuing to increase and structural development is penetrating deeper into the wildland regions,” states Gary Marshall, Deputy Fire Chief for Bend Fire & Rescue. “Central Oregon is no exception,” he adds. “Our experiences and successes here in Deschutes County are helping to form national and state recommendations that address issues that threaten our lives, our homes and the safety of our firefighters”.
Nationally, the Blue Ribbon Panel addressed five key areas: Education/Awareness, Incentives, Mitigation, Regulation and Suppression – all aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the urban interface.
The three Chiefs agree that more needs to be done at the State and Federal level to ensure communities plan and mitigate for the inevitable expansion of structures into the wildland interface areas.
Locally, through participation in Project Wildfire, Deschutes County fire agencies have collaborated with the community members to develop seven Community Wildfire Protection Plans that address wildfire issues on public and private lands in each of the populated areas in the county.
“It is important that the lessons of the recent Los Angeles fires are not forgotten and that we do not continue to build (and rebuild) homes in the urban interface with little regard for the threat of wildfire and conflagration,” affirms Taylor Robertson, Fire Chief, Sisters – Camp Sherman Fire District.
Left, Will May, Fire Chief and Emergency Services Director for Alachua County, FL, Gary Marshall, Fire Marshal of Bend, Oregon, Taylor Robertson, Sisters Fire Department, OR and Tom Fay from Oregon Project Wildfire, Rick Prausa, Deputy Director of Fire Management for the US Forest Service and Russell Riggs, National Association of Realtors discuss key WUI issues at the Blue Ribbon Panel meeting on Wildland Urban Interface Fire in Washington, DC on October 23rd.
CONTACT: Susie Lovisco, Deputy Fire Marshal Phone: 322-6383 office 693-6283 pager
A simple habit can save a life, so Bend Fire & Rescue wants to remind you to Change Your Clock and Check Your Smoke Alarm, when Daylight Saving Time reverts to Standard Time at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 4th, 2007.
This simple program is designed to save lives by encouraging people to check their smoke alarm battery when they move their clocks backwards. The fire death rate in homes with working smoke alarms is 51% less than the rate for homes without this protection.
Why do smoke alarms fail? Most often because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries.
“Citizens should first test their smoke alarm battery before automatically replacing it,” says Deputy Chief Gary Marshall. “Long-life lithium batteries have a life span of up to 10 years and if your alarm has one of these batteries, you may not need to replace it every time you change your clock. However, you should always test and vacuum your smoke alarm monthly,” says Marshall.
Working smoke alarms provide an early warning to a fire, allowing you vital minutes to escape.
Bend Fire & Rescue offers a free smoke alarm program for homeowners who live in Bend. This winter, teams of fire safety educators will be testing and distributing free smoke alarms in high-risk fire neighborhoods. If you are interested, please contact (541) 322-6309 for more information.
This simple yet powerful act of testing the batteries in your smoke alarms when you change the clock back on Sunday, November 4th, doubles your family’s chances of surviving a home fire.
Additional Safety Tips:
-Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside each sleeping area -Replace smoke alarms every 10 years -Hard-wired alarms with battery back-ups will increase your safety -Never disconnect or remove batteries from smoke alarms for other uses -Make a home escape plan and practice it with the entire family
CONTACT: Gary Marshall, City of Bend Fire Marshal, City of Bend Fire Department, (541) 322-6308
Fire Season Begins June 1, 2006
Summer fire restrictions begin June 1, 2006 for the City of Bend and Deschutes County Fire District #2. Open Burning within the Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2 will close Wednesday, May 31st at dark.
Gary Marshall said due to the increasing fire danger, the Bend Fire Department will go into a regulated burning closure and declare Fire Season to begin June 1. People that want to burn debris shall call the burning information line at 322-6335. Regulated closure may close burning on a day by day basis until June 1 due to weather and fire danger for the day.
No backyard debris, commercial or agricultural burning will be allowed within the City of Bend or Fire District #2 after May 31. Burning will remain closed until after fire season. Approved small warming and cooking fires will be permitted when safety regulations are in compliance.
As a reminder to all central Oregon residents, Bend Fire Department advises that regulations may vary between fire protection jurisdictions. Please contact your local, state or federal fire agency for specific requirements and closures.
CONTACT: Gary Marshall, City of Bend Fire Marshal, (541) 322-6308
Fire Season Begins Wednesday
Summer fire restrictions begin this coming Wednesday. Burning debris within the Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2 will close Tuesday, May 31st at dark. Gary Marshall said due to the increasing fire danger, many of the Central Oregon Fire Chiefs have decided to go into a regulated burning closure and declare Fire Season to begin June 1, 2005 at 12:01 a.m.
No backyard debris, commercial or agricultural burning will be allowed within the City of Bend or Fire District #2. Burning will remain closed until after fire season. Approved small warming and cooking fires will be permitted when safety regulations are in compliance.
As a reminder to all central Oregon residents, Bend Fire Department advises that regulations may vary between governmental jurisdictions within the tri-county area. Please contact your local, state or federal fire agency for specific requirements and closures.
CONTACT: Don Jenson, Deputy Fire Chief, City of Bend Fire Department, (541) 322-6300
Announcing the arrival of the newest member in our firefighting family – a 2003 KME Type 3 Interface Engine.
Please join us as we present our new addition to the public and answer questions about how the bouncing baby truck will fulfill the growing fire & life safety needs of our community.
Wednesday May 26, 2004
Bend Fire & Rescue - Tumalo Station
19850 4th Street in Tumalo
3:30 PM to 6 PM
The newly adopted engine carries 750 gallons of water, 25 gallons each of Class A & B foam and is capable of pumping 500 gallons per minute. The truck was specifically designed with a shorter heelbase and a tight turning radius for firefighting work in both the urban and rural areas of Central Oregon.
CONTACT: Gary Marshall, City of Bend Fire Marshal, (541) 322-6308
Summer fire restrictions begin this coming Monday. Burning debris within the Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2 will close Sunday, May 16th at dark. Gary Marshall said due to the increasing fire danger, Deschutes County Fire Chiefs have decided to go into a regulated burning closure and declare Fire Season to begin May 17, 2004 at 12:01 a.m. throughout Deschutes County.
No backyard debris, commercial or agricultural burning will be allowed within the City of Bend or Fire District #2. Burning will remain closed until after fire season. Approved small warming and cooking fires will be permitted when safety regulations are in compliance.
As a reminder to all central Oregon residents, Bend Fire Department advises that regulations may vary between governmental jurisdictions within the tri-county area. Please contact your local, state or federal fire agency for specific requirements and closures.