Wildfire Readiness

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Community resource

Free Wildfire Home Assessments

Learn how a wildfire readiness assessment can help identify risks around your property and improve defensible space, address visibility, and emergency preparedness.

Firewise assessmentsRequest a local assessment and learn what assessors look for around your home and property. Reflective address signsLearn why visible, reflective address signs matter. Request an assessment to get started.
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Onion Creek Community Resource

Wildfire Readiness Center

Helping neighbors reduce wildfire risk, request local assessments, improve address visibility, and prepare before wildfire season.

Take the readiness check Request assessment

What is Firewise?

Firewise USA® helps communities take practical steps before wildfire.

Firewise USA® is a voluntary NFPA program that helps neighbors get organized, reduce risk, and take action locally. OnionCreekWA.org is not the official Firewise site. This page is a local education and connection tool.

Firewise USA logo Visit official Firewise USA® resources

Protect your home

Focus on the area closest to structures first: roofs, gutters, decks, vents, firewood, and combustible materials.

Protect your family

Prepare evacuation plans, go-bags, address signs, and communication plans before smoke is in the air.

Protect your neighbors

Some residents may need extra hands, tools, trailers, or help knowing where to start.

Defensible space

Start close to the house.

The image below shows the home ignition zones around a rural home. Tap or click each colored dot to see what to focus on in that area.

Aerial view of a home with red, orange, and green defensible space rings

Zone 0: 0-5 feet

This is the most important area to keep clean because embers can collect right next to the home.

  • Remove needles, leaves, and combustible debris.
  • Clean roofs, gutters, decks, and porches.
  • Keep firewood, stored items, and flammables away from structures.

Zone 1: 5-30 feet

Create separation between plants, structures, and fuel sources.

  • Trim vegetation and remove dead plants.
  • Separate shrubs and keep grass maintained.
  • Move fuel packages like firewood and propane away from structures.

Zone 2: 30-100 feet

Reduce fuel loading before fire reaches the area close to your home.

  • Thin trees and increase spacing where practical.
  • Remove ladder fuels under trees.
  • Reduce piles of dead branches, dry grass, and debris.

Source: Firewise USA® home ignition zone guidance and public wildfire preparedness materials.

What can we actually control?

TopographyThe lay of the land.
WeatherWind, humidity, heat, and drought.
FuelVegetation, debris, firewood, and combustible materials. This is the one we can work on.

Interactive quiz

How prepared is your home?

This is an educational self-check, not an official inspection or Firewise assessment. You'll get a personalized score and action plan at the end.

Home & Structure

Are roof, gutters, decks, and porches clear of needles, leaves, and debris?

Embers can collect in these areas and ignite your home. Keeping them clean is one of the easiest ways to reduce risk.

Source: Firewise USA® homeowner checklist.

Home & Structure

Is the first 5 feet around your home mostly clear of combustible mulch, needles, dry plants, and stored items?

The closest zone to the home is one of the highest-priority areas for reducing ember ignition risk.

Source: Firewise USA® home ignition zone guidance.

Defensible Space

Is firewood stored at least 30 feet away from structures when possible?

Firewood piles can become a large fuel source close to a home, deck, or shed.

Source: Firewise USA® fuel reduction checklist.

Defensible Space

Are tree branches trimmed back from roofs, decks, chimneys, and driveways?

Branches near structures and access roads can increase fuel and make emergency access harder.

Source: Firewise USA® vegetation guidance.

Home & Structure

Do vents have appropriate metal mesh or ember-resistant protection?

Windblown embers can enter vulnerable vents and ignite combustible materials inside.

Source: Firewise USA® home hardening checklist.

Outbuildings & Property

Are propane tanks, gas cans, lumber, and other combustibles kept away from structures?

Stored combustible items near homes and sheds can add fuel during a wildfire.

Source: Firewise USA® checklist.

Access & Visibility

Is your address clearly visible from the road, including at night or in smoke?

Responders need to find the right driveway quickly, especially in rural areas with limited visibility.

Source: Emergency preparedness best practice.

Access & Visibility

Can emergency vehicles safely use your driveway or access road?

Driveway width, brush, low branches, and turnaround space can affect emergency response.

Source: Wildfire and rural emergency preparedness guidance.

Emergency Preparedness

Do you have at least two evacuation route ideas or a family evacuation plan?

A plan helps reduce panic when conditions change quickly.

Source: Firewise USA® friends and neighbors guidance.

Community & Neighbors

Have you talked with at least one neighbor about wildfire readiness or emergency communication?

Neighbors may be the first people able to check in, share alerts, or help with evacuation needs.

Source: Firewise USA® Band Together community guidance.

Emergency Preparedness

Do you have an emergency kit or go-bag ready?

A ready kit saves time if you need to leave quickly.

Source: Emergency preparedness guidance.

Defensible Space

Do you regularly remove dead vegetation, dry grass, and ladder fuels around your property?

Fuel is the wildfire behavior factor residents have the most ability to reduce around their homes.

Source: Firewise USA® fuel threat reduction guidance.

Local walkthrough request

Request a free wildfire home assessment

Use this form to request a local wildfire readiness assessment, ask about a reflective address sign, or share scheduling details. Requests are saved privately, emailed to the notification list, and routed into the private Help Board workflow for review.

Community volunteers making reflective address signs

Community in action

Free reflective address signs

Local volunteers are helping produce reflective address signs as part of the Onion Creek wildfire preparedness effort.

  • Help firefighters locate homes faster
  • Improve visibility at night and in poor weather
  • Support emergency response efforts

Interested in a sign? Request a Firewise assessment to get started.

🏡 Free Assessments🪧 Address Signs🚒 Firefighter Support🤝 Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Request Free Assessment Share With Neighbors

Need help with

Can help with

Golden hour forest road in rural pine woods

Easy wins

Start with one task.

  • Clean roof, gutters, decks, and porches.
  • Move firewood and propane tanks away from structures.
  • Trim branches near roofs and driveways.
  • Install reflective address numbers visible from the road.
  • Talk to neighbors about evacuation and shared cleanup needs.

Neighbors helping neighbors

Need help, or want to help?

Use the request form above to ask about a local walkthrough, reflective address sign, or wildfire preparedness help. Neighbors who can offer time, tools, trailers, or experience can also share how they may be able to help. Submissions are private intake items and are not posted publicly unless reviewed and intentionally shared later.

Quick reminders

  • Start with the first 5 feet around the home.
  • Fuel is the wildfire factor we can reduce locally.
  • Reflective address signs help responders find homes faster.

Help spread the word

Know a neighbor who could benefit from a free wildfire assessment, reflective address sign, or local preparedness help? Share this page with them.

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