SUNRIVER, Ore. – Dozens of Sunriver residents gathered at the Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic Center (SHARC) on Tuesday for a wildfire preparedness fair, aimed at helping the community become more firewise. The event, hosted by local fire departments and law enforcement agencies, offered residents a chance to learn about steps they can take to protect their homes and neighborhoods from the growing threat of wildfires.
“We’re trying to use the expertise of all these people here to help us, because most of us don’t know anything about it,” said John Dandona, a Sunriver homeowner. His sentiment was shared by many at the fair, as wildfires continue to be a significant concern in Central Oregon, especially following the fires that threatened areas like Bend and La Pine last summer.
The fires of the previous year, along with those that devastated Southern California, have prompted a surge in interest from homeowners eager to learn how they can better protect their properties from wildfires. Dandona, whose friends and neighbors in Sunriver have been impacted by past fires, said the event offered a timely opportunity to take action.
“We became very aware of the necessity of being fire-safe and fire-wise,” Dandona explained. “A couple of our friends, neighbors here who live here part-time, lost their houses or had their houses damaged. So we decided it was time for us to take a stand to be fire-smart.”
The fair is part of a series of four wildfire preparedness events held in the region, with the second taking place in Sunriver. These events serve as educational opportunities for the public to connect with fire departments, law enforcement, and other experts, gaining valuable insights into fire prevention strategies and resources available to homeowners.
Heather Miller, a representative from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, shared important tips on simple yet effective measures homeowners can take to reduce fire risk. “Things we’re talking about today are things like making sure the roof stays clean and gutters are clean, and the vents around their house are small enough. We want to prevent embers from getting into their house, so the recommendation is an 1/8 inch to a 1/16th inch metal screening. These are easy tasks homeowners can do to retrofit their homes,” Miller said.
For many, like Dandona, the information provided was not only eye-opening but also vital for the upcoming fire season. “The most valuable thing I think we’ve learned today is that we’ve got a lot of work to do,” he noted. “Number two is that there are a lot of resources here available to us if you know about them. This is a tremendous place to gather those resources, and that’s what we’ve done here today.”
The final two wildfire preparedness fairs will take place on Wednesday. The first will be held at the Warm Springs Fire Station from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., followed by another at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, in the Mazama Gym, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. These fairs are expected to draw additional residents eager to learn more about how to protect their homes and communities from the threat of wildfires.
As Central Oregon enters another fire season, events like these play a crucial role in helping residents stay informed and prepared, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to reduce fire risks in their homes.
