Wildfires are not the biggest worry we have here in East Portland, but it’s best to be prepared just in case! This slideshow is from a presentation given to the general meeting of Thrive East PDX on January 27, 2025 by Karen Wolfgang, Co-Team Leader of Centennial Neighborhood Emergency Team (CNET). Here are the main points; check out the slideshow for additional details!
- Use PortlandMaps.com to search for your address. Among other helpful information, you can look for whether you are in a Wildfire Hazard Zone (not much of East Portland is, but there are a few spots, and you can pass this tool along to others!) and find your local fire station.
- Check out Firewise, a national program with some participating neighborhoods in Portland. This program has a great protocol for property assessment, and through this program you can request an assessment of your home by Portland Fire & Rescue and also work with neighbors to reduce risk collectively.
- Connect with houseless folks in your neighborhood. People living outside are allowed to have warming fires, but it’s really dangerous: up to 50% of fires that PF&R responds to start in houseless encampments. If possible, spread the message that there is no safe fire for these vulnerable populations, and help reduce risk.
- Wildfire smoke can make anyone sick, but people with asthma, heart or lung conditions, children, pregnant people, and first responders are especially at risk. (Consult your healthcare provider if you are in one of these groups.) Breathe in as little smoke as possible to minimize risk.
- Familiarize yourself with Air Quality Index (AQI) and evacuation levels. Knowing how these systems work ahead of time can help act appropriately and manage anxiety when they become relevant.
- Consider getting trained and participating in NET! You do not have to be a trained NET to meet with our Centennial Neighborhood Emergency Team (CNET). Living, working, or playing in Centennial (or even a nearby neighborhood) works for us.
Here are some additional helpful resources to prepare for wildfires:
- Reporting: If you see a fire, CALL 9-1-1. If you are concerned about a houseless camp, call 3-1-1 or use PDX Reporter
- Risk Reduction: Visit Portland Fire & Rescue’s page for tips on Reducing the Risk of Wildfire and Oregon Health Authority for additional resources to Prepare for wildfire
- FREE Home Assessment: Request a Wildland-Urban Interface Home Assessment via the PF&R Firewise Program
- Fire-Resistant Plant Guide: Read up on (and then plant!) Fire-resistant plants for home landscapes
- Public Alerts: Sign up for public alerts from the County at PublicAlerts.org/signup and check air quality at oregonsmoke.org
- PulsePoint: Download the app for real-time information about hazards near you at PulsePoint.org
- Watch Duty: Download the app for incredible current fire data at WatchDuty.org
- PurpleAir: Get hyperlocal air quality data from PurpleAir
- Evacuations: Oregon Wildfire Response and Recovery has a current evacuations map at wildfire.oregon.gov
And finally, don’t forget to prepare for home fires, too. Together, we can be a much safer community!