Medford, OR – Nearly five years after the devastating Almeda Fire ravaged the Rogue Valley, two manufactured home parks in Medford and Phoenix have become the first in their cities to apply for Firewise recognition, signaling a significant step toward increasing fire safety and resilience in the region.
San George Estates, located in Medford, and Creekside Estates, situated in Phoenix, are working diligently to make their communities safer and more fire-adapted. Both parks have already undertaken extensive efforts to reduce fire risks, with more improvements planned for the coming weeks. The Firewise program, aimed at reducing wildfire risks and increasing community resilience, is an essential part of their ongoing commitment.
San George Estates, although spared from the Almeda Fire, was warned that it could have been devastated had the wind shifted. To address this potential threat, the park has implemented a range of proactive measures to enhance its fire resistance. These measures include replacing trees with a stone wall, replacing wood fences with chain-link, elevating the tree canopy, and swapping out bushes for fire-resistant plants.
Ginger Willis, the onsite manager of San George Estates, acknowledged the significance of these efforts, calling the process “involved but great.” Reflecting on the aftermath of the Almeda Fire, she emphasized the importance of preparing for future disasters, noting, “I can’t imagine anything more devastating than losing everything you have.”
In Phoenix, Creekside Estates suffered severe damage in the 2020 fire, with only 10 out of 58 homes remaining after the blaze. As part of its ongoing recovery and fire preparedness efforts, Creekside is focused on reducing the fuel load in the area to minimize the risk of future fires. Bob McKean, president of the Creekside Estates Homeowners Association, stressed the importance of sustained vigilance, stating, “Every seven years we could have another fire. And what we’re working at is to reduce the fuel load and make it safer in our community.”
Both parks are receiving support from the Firebrand Resiliency Collective’s “Ready Now” program, which helps enhance wildfire preparedness across the region. Tucker Teutsch, executive director of Firebrand Resiliency Collective, explained that while the process of creating Firewise neighborhoods has been slow due to the lengthy recovery process following the Almeda Fire, he is optimistic about the future. “I think we’re going to see a lot more of these dominoes fall as far as manufactured home parks becoming Firewise,” he said.
Though San George Estates and Creekside Estates have submitted their applications for Firewise recognition, both parks still have additional work ahead. They are committed to completing further safety improvements in the coming weeks as part of their continued efforts to safeguard their communities from future wildfires.
The commitment of these two communities marks an important moment in the region’s long-term recovery from the Almeda Fire, showing that proactive and collective action can help protect lives and property from the growing threat of wildfires.