Jacksonville, Ore. – As wildfires continue to devastate communities across the United States, Jacksonville, Oregon, is emerging as a beacon of resilience and preparedness. With 40 Firewise USA sites, Jacksonville, a small town of just 3,000 residents, has become a national leader in wildfire readiness. The town now ranks fourth in the nation for the most Firewise communities, a significant achievement that underscores its commitment to protecting both homes and lives from the increasing threat of wildfires.
The driving force behind this success is Linda Davis, Jacksonville’s Firewise coordinator. Under her leadership, the number of Firewise neighborhoods in the town has skyrocketed from just eight to 40 in a span of only five years. Davis attributes much of the success to community engagement and a shared commitment to safeguarding the town against wildfires.
“It’s about two-thirds of the people who live here who reside in Firewise neighborhoods, which we are really, really proud of,” Davis said. “We’re still working to get more people in neighborhoods.”
This impressive growth is a direct response to the devastating Almeda Fire of 2020, which tore through the area and left a lasting impact on the community. The fire highlighted the critical need for proactive measures to protect homes and neighborhoods from such disasters. Davis points out that Firewise practices, such as creating defensible spaces and implementing home hardening techniques, have proven to make a significant difference in the aftermath of wildfires. “You often see neighborhoods where you have one home standing and everything else burned down. And that’s because that one home established home hardening and defensible techniques that are recommended by Firewise,” Davis explained.
The success of Jacksonville’s Firewise program has also been fueled by strong collaboration between local leadership, community members, and city officials. Davis emphasizes the importance of cooperative efforts in wildfire preparedness. “It needs to be a cooperative venture,” she said. “You need to work with the city, of course, because they have public works. They have people. There’s a lot of city property within Jacksonville.”
Jacksonville’s approach has become a model for other communities in Oregon and beyond, showing how, through dedication and teamwork, towns can significantly enhance their resilience in the face of wildfires. As Oregon continues to rank among the top states for Firewise USA sites, Jacksonville hopes to inspire other towns to adopt similar measures, proving that with the right preparation, it’s possible to protect communities from the growing threat of wildfires.
For those interested in learning more about how to establish a Firewise USA community, further information is available on the Firewise USA website.