Portland real estate agent Kathryn Rosson was tempted to buy a home in southern California last summer, but as wildfires were raging across the state, she decided against it.

She learned the hilltop dwelling she was considering was in a fire zone, and the San Diego fire department had used the property as a staging area when battling blazes in the area.

Rosson later discovered that as of Jan. 1, 2021, California requires a seller make it known if a residential property for sale is located in a high fire hazard zone. The disclosure document, signed by the seller and buyer, also reveals the home’s possible vulnerabilities and defensible features.

“To my knowledge, Oregon does not have such a clause,” said Rosson of eXp Realty. “When buying property adjacent to forest areas, the question should be asked, is a wildfire probable? The buyer should always do their own due diligence.”

The largest purchase most people make – their home – should come with lots of assurances. In addition to traditional pre-sale inspections of the dwelling’s foundation to the roof, some Oregon home shoppers want to know if their next place could be a target for an inferno.

The Oregon Wildfire Risk Explorer tool lets homeowners, and potential buyers, put in an address and receive a general summary of what’s called the “home ignition zone,” along with recommendations to dampen the potential of wind-whipped flames.

But the tool is not a substitute for an on-the-ground site assessment by a professional forester or fire personnel, according to the website’s disclaimer.

In Portland, property owners in wildfire hazard zones can request a wildland-urban interface home assessment, conducted by Portland Fire & Rescue, to learn specific tasks to do to reduce fire risks.

At the opposite end of the state, residents are taking advantage of the free wildfire risk assessment offered by Ashland Fire & Rescue and the city’s Wildfire Safety Commission. And lately, homeowners who want to fix up their property to sell it are seeking advice, too.

The reason: Fire-wise features can become a selling point to potential buyers.

Houses for sale are typically staged to make the interior more appealing to home shoppers looking at photographs online or touring the property in person. And clutter – a fire hazard – is commonly removed.

Also common repairs: Portland Fire & Rescue’s safety checklist includes making sure electrical and heating equipment is in good working condition and not overheating, and smoke alarms and carbon dioxide detectors are required.

Sellers might take readying a home for sale in a fire zone to the next level. They could replace old plastic in skylights with glass that won’t melt or pull out combustible junipers and add fire-resistant native plants in the yard. A steel fence might take the place of a rickey, wood one and metal mesh installed under a deck can block flying embers.

Ashland’s free assessment of the home’s exterior and landscape is conducted by volunteers who have received field training and coaching by the city’s firefighters, and information modeled after Oregon State University Extension Services’ Citizen Fire Academy.

The fire mitigation volunteer walks the property and points out potential dangers – propane tanks should be in a well-ventilated area away from structures – and suggests changes such as clearing gutters of needles, dried leaves and twigs that can ignite.

Fire suppression work reduces the vulnerability of a home and the entire community, said Colin Mullane of Full Circle Real Estate in Ashland, who doesn’t hesitate to explain that Ashland sits in a wildfire hazard zone.

Mullane and other members of the Rogue Valley Association of Realtors hand clients brochures that recommend buying a home with fire-hardened features such as non-wood siding and double-paned windows that are less likely to fracture under intense heat.

“We talk to potential buyers and make sure they’re aware of wildfire,” Mullane said. “I don’t think there’s a community in the Pacific Northwest, or one in California, Montana or Alaska that’s not having this discussion.”

The Rogue Valley Association of Realtors hands out brochures to clients that state that all of Ashland is within a wildfire hazard zone. The brochure suggests fire hardened features buyers should look for, from fire-resistant, non-wood siding and double paned or tempered glass less likely to fracture under intense heat. — Members of the Rogue Valley Association of Realtors hand out brochures that address wildfire risks.Rogue Valley Association of Realtors

Greg Addington, head of governmental affairs for the Rogue Valley’s real estate association, said the group received a $35,000 educational grant from the National Association of Realtors to create an awareness campaign about Fire Adapted Communities.

Fire-prevention advice is delivered through the printed brochure, digital ads and Facebook posts.

The grant also paid for state-certified home inspectors to be trained to perform wildfire assessments.

Potential buyers hire inspectors to flag needed home repairs, potential hazards and now, parts of a property susceptible to flying embers. Whether the problems are fixed and who pays the expense is negotiated between the buyer and seller.

The Rogue Valley Association of Realtors started working on the awareness program two years ago, just before the 2020 Almeda Fire destroyed homes in Ashland, Talent and Phoenix. But the campaign is just starting.

“It’s a collaborative, all-encompassing approach to living in an area that will have wildfires,” said Mullane. “It’s focused on preparedness, awareness and knowing what to do.”

Landscaping

Oregon’s defensible space law requires that landowners reduce excess vegetation around structures. Depending on the risk of fire, some areas also need fuel breaks along property lines and roadsides.

Creating a lean and green landscape that can slow, resist or stop the spread of a fire not only enhances the home’s curb appeal, it allows defensible space to be a selling advantage.

Ground covers, perennials, shrubs and trees that are fire-resistant have high moisture, supple leaves and water-like sap. Some of Oregon’s signature trees, like dogwood and Japanese maple, are on the low-flammability list.

And trees pruned to prevent a ground fire from climbing and spreading make a landscape look manicured and well maintained.

Irrigated areas that include grass and clusters of native plants or succulents surrounded by rock, not wood bark, can act as fire buffers along with patios, gravel walkways and driveways.

Be ready to act fast

There’s no guarantee that you’ll get a warning before you must evacuate because of a fire or other life-threatening emergency.

Sign up for notifications: Enroll in Public Alerts, Citizen Alert or a service in your county to be notified via text, call or email by emergency response agencies when you need to take action such as shelter-in-place or evacuate.

Have an escape plan: Make sure everyone in your home knows how to safely exit a building, where you will all reunite and how you will contact each other if phones aren’t working.

Prepare a go bag: Put together a small bag with essentials like a first-aid kit that you can grab as you’re fleeing.

— Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

[email protected] | @janeteastman