Maintaining a survivable space of at least 100 feet for a home on level ground and 200 feet for a home on sloped terrain.

• Remove all dead plants, trees, branches, and other debris.
• Plant native, fire-resistant plants within 30 feet of your home.
• Remove branches extending over the roof or within 6 feet of the home.
• Screen all vent openings with 1/8 inch or smaller non-corrosive metal mesh.
• Clean out gutters and box in eaves.
• Enclose areas under raised decks to prevent embers from blowing underneath
• Use fire resistant roofing such as tile, composition shingles or metal.

For more information on safe debris removal and reducing your wildfire risk,
visit the Office of State Fire Marshal website at
http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/CommEd_WAW_2009.shtml
or the Keep Oregon Green website at
http://www.keeporegongreen.org/
For information on the 2010 Oregon fire season and weather outlook,
visit the Oregon Department of Forestry website at
http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/fire.shtml#Weather_and_Fire_Danger

Outdoor Cooking Safety
As we approach Memorial Day weekend and the summer months, the State Fire Marshal urges Oregonians to be fire safe when cooking outside To reduce the chances of an outdoor cooking-related fire or injury the following safety tips are recommended.

• Make sure the barbecue is in a safe area away from children, pets and anything that can burn.
• Store matches and lighters up and away from children.
• Don't be tempted by a rainy day to use outdoor cooking equipment inside – not even in the garage. You may be overcome by carbon monoxide gas, resulting in injury and death.
Extra care is needed for gas grills:

• Check all gas line connections to make certain they are tight and properly secured. Carefully bend the grill's flexible line and check it for cracks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
• If you smell a gas odor around a propane tank, immediately turn off the gas and don't attempt to light the grill until the leak is fixed.
• If your propane grill uses a one to ten gallon cylinder, make sure the cylinder has an overfill protection device.
• Always light the match before you turn on the gas.
Charcoal grills:

• Once a fire has been started, never add starter fluid. Fire may follow the stream of fluid back to the container, causing an explosion and scattering flaming liquid.
• Use caution disposing of ashes. Ashes may contain hot embers, which can start a fire if not disposed of properly. Place ashes in a covered metal container and put outdoors away from anything that can burn.

As winter weather sets in, Oregon Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Randy Simpson reminds Oregonians to have chimneys, fireplaces and woodstoves inspected and cleaned. Creosote accumulation is a leading cause of chimney fires.

"A chimney fire can spell disaster," says Simpson. "Prevention is your best defense. Having your chimney and fireplace cleaned and inspected by a professional can be a life saving decision."

During the 34-day period from December 1 through January 3, Oregon averages 66 residential fires - nearly two each day - originating in a chimney or fireplace due to failure to clean.

To reduce risks from chimney and fireplace fires, follow these safety tips:

• Have chimney and woodstove flues inspected and cleaned each year by a qualified chimney sweep. Ask them to check for creosote deposits, soot build-up or physical damage.
• Burning wrapping paper or greenery from a Christmas tree in a fire place or woodstove is dangerous. These combustibles quickly produce large amounts of heat and may accelerate ignition of creosote buildup.
• Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening. Sparks or embers may jump out and ignite nearby material.
• Keep a clutter free environment. Store kindling, fire logs and wood at least three feet from any heat source.
• Before going to sleep or leaving home, be sure your fireplace fire is out. Never close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace, the fire may reignite and a closed damper can force toxic carbon monoxide into your home.
• Dispose of ashes in a metal container and place the container outdoors at least three feet from anything flammable. Ashes may retain heat for days after they appear out.

More home fire safety information is available at:
http://egov.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/Community_Education.shtml

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently launched a new Sparky the Fire Dog® game to help children learn about the importance of fire safety. The game, “Crack the Code,” is now available free online at www.sparky.org. It stresses the importance of fire safety by asking children to identify fire facts that could help save lives. The site hosts a wide variety of games, puzzles, coloring pages and much more to help educate children about fire safety in a very fun and family orientated way.

Sparky® and Sparky the Fire Dog® are registered trademarks of NFPA.

Adobe Acrobat Reader required Fireworks Safety Promote & Practice the 4 BE'S STATE FIRE MARSHAL URGES WINTER HEATING SAFETY State Fire Marshal Randy Simpson is urging Oregonians to be fire safe and use caution when heating homes this winter. Oregonians can keep themselves safe by following these home heating safety tips: Read More! Winter Safety Tips & Driving Safely In Winter Weather! Follow these safety tips from CDC, the National Fire Protection Association, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to prevent injuries and deaths related to heating your home. Summer Safety Tips (pdf) School's out, pools are open and people are looking for fun ways to cool down as summer temperatures heat up. As you head to the beach, to the pool, or to the mountains for a camping vacation, we have helpful information to make your summer safer! Let's Talk Turkey! 2007 (pdf) When Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching, many families are considering how they want to prepare their turkey. To keep their holiday as safe as possible, Oregon State Fire Marshal Nancy Orr is encouraging Oregonians to skip the popular deep fat turkey fryers in favor of more traditional cooking methods. Read more... After the Fire is Out (pdf) Every thing you need to know, from repairing fire damage, protecting yourself and property, insurance, documents & records to cleaning tips. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (pdf) If you can't see it, smell it or taste it, how do you know if carbon monoxide is trapped in your home? Read more... Child Passenger Safety (pdf) A disturbing fact comes from a recent study by the SAFE KIDS organization: one third of children are riding in the wrong restraints for their age and size. Here are some questions to ask yourself about the safety of your child when it comes to riding in a vehicle... Cold Weather Fire Safety Tips for the Home (pdf) General tips for cold-weather safety in the home. Fire Extinguisher Facts (pdf) Fire Extinguishers Have Limits...USED PROPERLY, a portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or containing it until the fire department arrives. Portable extinguishers for home use, however, are not designed to fight large or spreading fires. Read more... Fire Safety Tips (pdf) Families should plan and practice together what to do in case there is a fire in the home. All family members should know the following components of a good emergency escape plan... For more home fire safety tips, visit: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/Com_Ed_Section.shtml For more smoke alarm information, visit: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/CommEd_SA_Program.shtml#Smoke_Alarm_Q___A For more information on carbon monoxide and Oregon's carbon monoxide law, visit: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/CommEd_CO_Program.shtml