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The national database of state and local wildfire hazard mitigation programs
serves as a clearinghouse of information about nonfederal policies and
programs that seek to reduce the risk of loss of life and property through
the reduction of hazardous fuels on private lands. If
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Title: |
Wasco County, Oregon - Wildfire Safety Standards
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Type: |
Regulatory
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Jurisdiction: |
County
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State: |
Oregon
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Program Description: |
Wasco County, Oregon -- Wildfire Safety Standards
Wasco County adopted wildfire safety standards in January, 2007. The new Wildfire Safety Standards are applicable to new construction outside the Urban Growth Boundaries of established communities. These areas have no structural fire protection provided by an established fire protection district. The Wildfire Safety Standards are consistent with SB 360, the Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Protection Act. The goal of the standards is to provide minimum standards to protect the health and welfare of people building in the rural areas of the county. The standards are available on the internet through a link from the Wasco County Planning Department website. Wasco County contains a National Scenic Area (NSA), the Columbia River Gorge, and there is a separate ordinance of fire standards within the NSA. This ordinance must be approved by the Columbia River Gorge Commission.
The Standards
Generally there are three types of standards:
- Siting of buildings, including defensible space and construction standards;
- Road standards;
- Water standards.
The standards are in written layman's terms and illustrated with diagrams. They are educational and user friendly, so that people considering building in the county will be able to determine by self-certification if they conform to the standards or if they will require a modification. Compliance with the applicable fire safety standards is required for new, replacement, and modified structures in all rural zones.Continued compliance after construction is the responsibility of the landowner. If a landowner needs a modication of the standards then he must submit a fire safety mitigation plan.
Siting development
Some of the siting issues are listed below:
- Structures should not be located on slopes greater than 40%.
- The development should be set back 50 feet from the top of slopes greater than 30%.
- The development should be surrounded by a 50 foot fuel break.
- The develpment should be designed, built and maintained to make the structure fire resistant.
Driveway Standards
Driveways should meet standands: 12 feet wide on straight sections, 14 feet wide on curves, 16 feet wide on linked curves or slopes in excess of 10%.
Driveways should be able to accomodate emergency equipment and provide turnouts as needed.
Driveways should provide a minimum 13 feet overhead clearance and 14 feet horizontal clearance.
A fire fuel break of 10 feet is required on either side of the center line of the driveway.
Driveways longer than 150 feet must have a turnaround.
Road Standards
Bridges or culverts must be maintained to support 75,000 pounds gross weight.
Signs must be in good repair.
Roads must be maintained in a condition that is passable for emergency vehicles.
Water Standards
On site water is required in both urban and rural envionments for fire safety, even outside a structural fire protection district.
Dwellings in the Forest Zones and outside a structural fire protection distrucit must provide a year round onsite 4,000 gallon water source, or access to to a stream or spring having a continuous year round flow of at least 1 cubic foot per second.
Contact Information
For more information, contact Todd Cornett at [email protected],
or,
Todd Cornett, Planning Director
Planning and Development
2705 East 2nd St.
The Dalles, OR 97058
541-506-2560
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