Wildfires over the past two weeks have ripped across parts of eastern Oregon, chewing through hundreds of thousands of acres this summer. Day after day, firefighters across the country have been on the front lines, faced with extreme conditions, lightning, and relentless wind that pushed several of these fires well over 100,000 acres.
Amid this chaos, a true story of heroism, teamwork, and community resiliency. As the winds kicked up on the evening of July 22 on the Boneyard Fire in Grant County, several Oregon State Fire Marshal structural task forces, local ranchers, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and contract firefighters would be in a battle to save several homes near Monument, Oregon.
The afternoon wind stirred up a wall of flames several feet high that marched towards homes west of town. Firefighters report trees igniting like torches, the flame front pushed by howling 30-mile-per-hour winds. The fire ripping, a daunting task faced these seasoned crews, the odds not in their favor. As the flames rushed forward, the firefight came within just feet of a few of these homes. These firefighters helped by work those who live here had done to become a Firewise community, creating defensible space and hardening their homes.
Those on the line say if these homeowners hadn’t come together and taken the steps to become a Firewise Community and prepared for wildfires and if these firefighting crews weren’t there, those homes wouldn’t be standing today. This preparation made all the difference, enabling firefighters to successfully defend these homes. Only a barn wall suffered minor damage.
This story from the Boneyard Fire highlights the power of preparation and teamwork. It shows that when communities and emergency responders unite, they can conquer even the fiercest of challenges. The dedication and bravery of everyone involved are a testament to the indomitable spirit of Oregon’s firefighting community and those who call this place home.
Learn more about defensible space here.