Oregon Department of Forestry
Standards for Private Property Certification Under SB 360
(Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997)

(1) Owners of lands classified by a committee as Low are not required to comply with the standards, however, they are encouraged to review their individual situation and to apply those standards which may be appropriate.

(2) Owners of lands classified by a committee as Moderate, High, Extreme, or High Density Extreme shall comply with the standards applicable to their lands. In meeting this requirement, owners shall apply one or more of the following:

(a) The default standards set forth in OAR 629-044-1060, which are intended for the majority of owners;

(b) The optional standards set forth in OAR 629-044-1065, which are intended for owners who are unable to meet the default standards; or

(c) The alternate standards developed pursuant to OAR 629-044-1070, which are intended for owners who wish to address site specific conditions or unique situations.

(3) Owners are encouraged to exceed the standards and to apply additional wildfire safety measures.

Stat. Auth.: ORS 477.059
Stats. Implemented: ORS 477.059
Hist.: DOF 9-2002, f. 9-19-02, cert. ef.11-15-02

(1) Where structures exist on lands classified by a committee as Moderate, High, Extreme, or High Density Extreme owners shall:

(a) Provide and maintain primary fuel breaks which comply with the requirements of OAR 629-044-1085 (which see below) and which are:

(A) Immediately adjacent to structures, for a distance of at least 30 feet, or to the property line, whichever is the shortest distance. The distance shall be measured along the slope and from the furthest extension of the structure, including attached carports, decks, or eaves.

(B) Immediately adjacent to driveways, for a distance of at least ten feet from the centerline of a driveway, or to the property line, whichever is the shortest distance. The distance shall be measured along the slope. Including the driving surface, a fuel break shall result in an open area which is not less than 13 1/2 feet in height and 12 feet in width or to the property line, whichever is the shortest distance.

(b) Provide and maintain secondary fuel breaks which comply with the requirements of OAR 629-044-1085 (see below) and which are immediately adjacent to primary fuel breaks, for the distance necessary to comply with the total fuel break distance specified in Table 2 of this rule, or to the property line, whichever is the shortest distance. The distance shall be measured along the slope and from the furthest extension of the structure, including attached carports, decks, or eaves.

(c) Remove any portion of a tree which extends to within 10 feet of the outlet of a structure chimney or a stove pipe;

(d) Maintain the portion of any tree which overhangs a structure substantially free of dead plant material;

(e) Maintain the area under decks substantially free of firewood, stored flammable building material, leaves, needles, and other flammable material; and

(f) During times of the year when wildfire may be a threat, locate firewood, flammable building material, and other similar flammable material:

(A) At least 20 feet away from a structure; or

(B) In a fully enclosed space.

(2) On all lands classified by a committee as High Density Extreme, owners shall comply with subsection (1) of this rule and with the standards set forth in OAR 629-044-1075.

For more information see the Government Impact Page in the Forestlands section of the Stewardship Plan and see the ODF web site at http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/SB360/sb360.shtml

629-044-1085

Fuel Break Requirements

(1) The purpose of a fuel break is to:

(a) Slow the rate of spread and the intensity of an advancing wildfire; and

(b) Create an area in which fire suppression operations may more safely occur.

(2) A fuel break shall be a natural or a human-made area where material capable of allowing a wildfire to spread:

(a) Does not exist; or

(b) Has been cleared, modified, or treated in such a way that the rate of spread and the intensity of an advancing wildfire will be significantly reduced.

(3) A primary fuel break shall be comprised of one or more of the following:

(a) An area of substantially non-flammable ground cover. Examples include asphalt, bare soil, clover, concrete, green grass, ivy, mulches, rock, succulent ground cover, or wildflowers.

(b) An area of dry grass which is maintained to an average height of less than four inches.

(c) An area of cut grass, leaves, needles, twigs, and other similar flammable materials, provided such materials do not create a continuous fuel bed and are in compliance with the intent of subsections (1) and (2) of this rule.

(d) An area of single specimens or isolated groupings of ornamental shrubbery, native trees, or other plants, provided they are:

(A) Maintained in a green condition;

(B) Maintained substantially free of dead plant material;

(C) Maintained free of ladder fuel;

(D) Arranged and maintained in such a way that minimizes the possibility a wildfire can spread to adjacent vegetation; and

(E) In compliance with the intent of subsections (1) and (2) of this rule.

(4) A secondary fuel break shall be comprised of single specimens or isolated groupings of ornamental shrubbery, native trees, or other plants, provided they are:

(a) Maintained in a green condition;

(b) Maintained substantially free of dead plant material;

(c) Maintained free of ladder fuel;

(d) Arranged and maintained in such a way that minimizes the possibility a wildfire can spread to adjacent vegetation; and

(e) In compliance with the intent of subsections (1) and (2) of this rule.

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