Project overview
The City of Troutdale is happy to announce that we’ve been awarded $60,000 to conduct wildfire mitigation efforts by the Oregon State Fire Marshall over a 3-year duration. The goal of the grant project is to help vulnerable communities engage in local efforts of wildfire risk reduction. Specifically, the city will organize 3 separate yard debris clean-up events where residents can access several green waste dumpsters to help reduce wildfire fuel in their localities. In addition to the yard debris clean up events, the city will be hiring arborists to conduct fire mitigation efforts in the most vulnerable public spaces of the city. This page will be used to communicate the most up to date information for the clean up events as they’re scheduled.
Why cleaning up yard debris can make a difference
In our home, the Pacific Northwest, it seems that fire season starts earlier and ends later year after year. So, what can we do to be as safe as we can during the fire season?
The vegetation commonly found in our yards such as grass, brush, and timber can be extremely combustible. These types of vegetation can burn with great intensity, which can be exacerbated and travel significant distances with the strong Columbia Gorge winds. It's critically important for us all to assess the vegetation and yard debris around our homes, to ensure there is ample defensible space for not only your own safety, but the community as a whole. Cleaning up yard debris - notably vegetation with resins and oils, narrow leaves or long thin needles, waxy or fuzzy leaves, dead leaves and twigs, and loose or papery bark – is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect your home from wildfires and preventing fires from spreading.
For more information on maintaining, enhancing, or learning what defensible spaces is please refer to the below resources:
- OregonDefensibleSpace.org
- Home Builder’s Guide to Construction in Wildfire Zones - FEMA
- Oregon Defensible Space - Oregon State Fire Marshal
The details
Clean Up Event #1: Sandee Palisades
June 18: Informational “kick off” meeting at Sandee Palisades Park (Refreshments will be provided.)
June 20: The city will provide dumpsters for yard debris at Sandee Palisades Park, Lewellyn Park, and Keyhole Park
- Permitted items for disposal: grass clippings, brush, plant trimmings, pine needles and cones, weeds, branches, and stumps less than 12 inches in diameter
- Prohibited items for disposal: household garbage, sod, dirt, rocks, lumber, metal, plastics, and stumps and trees larger than 12 inches in diameter
Clean up Event #2: Strawberry Meadows
Details to come...
Clean up Event #3: Various neighborhoods along on the eastern edge of Beaver Creek
Details to come…
Contact Us!
For any comments, questions, or concerts, please don’t hesitate to reach out! You can email us at firesafety [at] troutdaleoregon.gov (firesafety[at]troutdaleoregon[dot]gov) or call 503-674-7261.