Fire Season Is Here: The 10-Point Home Hardening Checklist Central Oregon Homeowners Need Right Now
- stonefirebuilders
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Wildfire season is at its peak in Central Oregon right now. August brings dry vegetation, low humidity, and shifting winds that can turn a distant fire into a serious threat quickly.
At the same time, Central Oregon’s new R327 fire-hardened building code is changing the standard for residential construction. The requirements took effect in Deschutes County in April 2026 and in Bend in May 2026, creating a clear focus on roofs, vents, siding, windows, and other features that can prevent ember ignition.
If you own an existing home, you may not be legally required to complete every R327 upgrade. However, the code provides a practical blueprint for voluntary home hardening: and waiting until smoke is visible is too late. Roofing, siding, vent replacement, and exterior construction projects require planning, materials, scheduling, and inspections.
Why Embers Are the Greatest Threat to Your Home
Many homeowners imagine wildfire damage as a wall of flames reaching the house. In reality, wind-blown embers cause a significant share of home ignitions. They can enter through attic vents, collect in gutters, land on roofs, or ignite dry leaves and mulch next to exterior walls.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, research from the National Institute of Standards and Technology shows that embers can travel several miles downwind. CAL FIRE similarly warns that embers can travel more than a mile and ignite homes ahead of the main fire front.
Some wildfire research estimates that embers account for up to 90% of structure ignitions in certain fire conditions. Consequently, home hardening is not about making your property completely fireproof. It is about eliminating predictable ignition points and improving the odds that your home can withstand an ember storm.
The 10-Point Central Oregon Home Hardening Checklist
Use the following checklist to identify your property’s most important vulnerabilities. A professional assessment can help you determine which improvements deserve immediate attention and which can be planned for a later phase.
1. Install a Class A Fire-Rated Roof
Your roof is one of the largest surfaces exposed to wind-blown embers. Aging wood shake roofs, damaged asphalt shingles, and roofs with accumulated needles or debris can ignite quickly.
When replacement is needed, choose a Class A fire-rated roofing assembly. Common options include modern asphalt composition shingles, metal roofing, clay tile, and concrete tile, provided the complete assembly meets the applicable rating.
Additionally, inspect flashing, valleys, roof-to-wall connections, and areas around chimneys. A high-quality roof is essential, but it must also be properly installed and maintained to provide dependable protection.
2. Protect Gutters and Install Ember-Resistant Gutter Guards
Gutters can trap pine needles, leaves, and other combustible debris directly against the roof edge. During an ember storm, that debris can ignite and transfer heat to the roof, fascia, and siding.
Clean your gutters regularly during fire season, then consider installing a properly fitted metal gutter guard or other ember-resistant system. Guards are not maintenance-free, but they can reduce debris accumulation and make cleaning more manageable.
Downspouts should also discharge water away from the foundation. Keeping the entire roof drainage system clear supports both wildfire resilience and ordinary home maintenance.
3. Replace Combustible Siding with Ignition-Resistant Materials
Wood siding can provide a direct path for fire when embers accumulate near walls, decks, windows, or landscaping. Cracked, deteriorated, or poorly maintained siding is especially vulnerable.
For new construction or replacement projects, consider fiber-cement siding, stucco, masonry, or metal siding. These materials can provide a more ignition-resistant exterior while still supporting attractive, modern designs.
The siding system matters as much as the product itself. Gaps, open joints, exposed framing, and unprotected penetrations can create vulnerabilities, so installation should be completed carefully and according to applicable code requirements.
4. Upgrade to Tempered Glass Windows
Wildfire heat and wind-blown debris can break ordinary window glass. Once a window fails, flames and embers can enter the home and ignite curtains, furniture, flooring, or other interior materials.
When replacing windows, choose tempered glass or fire-resistant glazing appropriate for your home’s location and exposure. Dual-pane units may provide additional protection by reducing heat transfer and helping the inner pane remain intact longer.
Pay particular attention to large windows, windows facing dense vegetation, and windows near decks or fences. Window upgrades are most effective when combined with fire-resistant siding and well-maintained defensible space.
5. Install 1/16-Inch Ember-Resistant Mesh on Vents
Attic, crawl-space, soffit, and foundation vents are common entry points for embers. Standard openings can allow burning material to reach insulation, framing, and other concealed areas.
Install corrosion-resistant metal mesh with 1/16-inch openings, or use listed ember-resistant vent products where required. Oregon’s Home Hardening Guide explains that certain low-height eave, soffit, cornice, and crawl-space locations may require vents specifically designed and tested to resist ember and flame intrusion.
This is a relatively small upgrade with potentially significant value. Because improper screening can affect ventilation and moisture control, have the work evaluated by a qualified professional.
6. Enclose Combustible Eaves and Soffits
Exposed wood eaves, open soffits, and other roof-edge details can collect embers. They can also allow fire to move into concealed roof and attic spaces.
Use non-combustible or ignition-resistant materials for eaves and soffits when repairing or replacing these components. Any ventilation openings must be protected using an approved ember-resistant solution rather than a standard unprotected vent.
R327 focuses heavily on these roof-edge areas because they combine combustible materials, airflow, and ember exposure. Eliminating exposed wood helps close one of the most important gaps in your home’s exterior defense.
7. Create a 5-Foot Non-Combustible Zone
The first five feet around your foundation is the home’s immediate ignition zone. Bark mulch, firewood, dry vegetation, plastic storage items, and accumulated leaves can all carry fire directly to the structure.
Replace combustible ground cover with rock, gravel, concrete, pavers, or other non-combustible hardscape. Remove vegetation that touches siding, windows, decks, or exterior stairs.
This zone does not need to look barren. Thoughtful stonework, clean pathways, and carefully selected low-growing plants can create a finished appearance while reducing ember exposure.
8. Maintain 30 Feet of Lean, Clean, and Green Defensible Space
Defensible space reduces the amount of fuel and heat surrounding your home. Within approximately 30 feet, maintain vegetation so it is lean, clean, and green:
Lean: Space shrubs and trees so fire cannot easily move from one plant to another.
Clean: Remove dead branches, dry grass, leaves, needles, and ladder fuels.
Green: Maintain healthy, irrigated vegetation where practical.
Prune lower branches on trees, remove vegetation from beneath decks, and avoid continuous rows of shrubs leading toward the home. Beyond 30 feet, additional vegetation management may be appropriate depending on your property, slope, and local fire guidance.
For local recommendations, review Bend Fire & Rescue’s Own Your Zone resources. Defensible space is an ongoing responsibility, not a one-time landscaping project.
9. Replace Vulnerable Decking and Fencing
Wood decks can trap embers underneath, between boards, and where the deck meets the house. A deck that touches combustible siding or connects directly to interior living space can create a serious ignition pathway.
When replacement is necessary, consider fire-resistant or non-combustible decking materials. Keep the area beneath decks clear of leaves, firewood, patio cushions, and other combustible storage.
Wood fencing that connects directly to the home can also carry fire to the structure. Consider creating a non-combustible break near the house using metal, masonry, or another appropriate material.
10. Improve Driveway Access and Address Visibility
Firefighters need to locate and reach your home quickly. Narrow driveways, overgrown access routes, low branches, blocked turnarounds, and hidden address numbers can delay emergency response.
Keep driveways clear and provide adequate space for emergency vehicles wherever possible. Trim branches that obstruct access, maintain visible house numbers, and make sure the numbers can be seen from the street in smoke, darkness, or poor visibility.
This step does not involve a major remodel, but it is crucial. A fire-resistant home still needs to be identifiable and accessible when emergency crews arrive.
Do Not Wait Until the Fire Is Close
Some hardening measures can be completed quickly, such as removing combustibles from the first five feet, cleaning gutters, clearing under decks, and improving address visibility. Other projects: including roofing, siding, windows, soffits, and vent systems: require more time.
That is why you should schedule an assessment now, while there is still an opportunity to plan and complete work before the most dangerous conditions arrive. R327 is designed primarily for qualifying new construction, but existing homeowners can voluntarily apply many of the same principles during repairs, replacements, and remodels.
Stone Fire Construction and Maintenance LLC has 20 years of combined industry experience, including 10 years serving Central Oregon. We are licensed, bonded, and insured under CCB# 243975, and we understand the practical requirements behind R327 home hardening.
Schedule Your Central Oregon Home Hardening Assessment
We will walk your property, identify vulnerabilities, and give you a prioritized plan: what needs attention this season and what can wait. We can assess your roof, gutters, siding, windows, vents, eaves, decks, landscaping, and emergency access, then provide a clear quote for recommended work.
You do not have to complete every upgrade at once. A transparent, phased plan can help you address the highest-risk areas first while keeping your project aligned with your budget.
Book your home hardening assessment now. Slots are limited during fire season.
Call Scott Bender:541-948-3775
Schedule online:Book your assessment with Stone Fire Construction and Maintenance LLC
Fire-safe construction can look modern, attractive, and welcoming. With the right materials, careful workmanship, and timely action, you can strengthen your home and protect the long-term value of your Central Oregon property.
Sources and Local Resources
Comments