building in oregon’s fire zones: smart design that protects your property
By Forged Built- Oregon’s Trusted Construction Experts
Oregon’s beautiful landscapes- from the pine covered mountains to the high desert and forest valleys- offer incredible places to build. But many of these areas come with one major risk: wildfires.
If you are building a home, shop, or outbuilding in a fire-prone part of Oregon, you can’t afford to treat fire-resistance as an afterthought. At Forged BUilt, we work with landowners across Oregon to design a build smarter- using fire-aware stragies that protect your invesment and improve you peace of mind.
Here is what you need to know about building in Oregon’s fire zone and how to deign for resilisnce from the ground up.
WHY FIRE ZONES MATTER
Every summer, wildfires threaten thousands of homes scross Oregon. In fact, the stste now uses Wildfire Hazards Zones (WHZ) and the Oregon Wildfire Risk Explorer map to identify areas with high, moderate, and extreme wildfire risk.
If your land falls in a wildfire prone zone, your build may be subject to Oregon’s new wildfire risk building codes—especially if you’re in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), where nature and development meet.
SMART FIRE-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION STARTS WITH DESIGN
Designing with fire in mind does not mean sacrificing beauty or functonality— it means making smart choices that reduce the chance of dmage and help your structure survive a worst-case scenario.
Here’s what we focus on at Forged Built:
(1) Fire-Resistant Siding & Roofing
Your exterior is your first line of defense.
Best Materials for fire resisitanse:
Fiber cement siding (like Hardie Board)
Stucco or stone veneer
Metal siding and roofing
Class A-rated composition shingles or standing seam metal roofs
We avoid combustable materials like untreated wood shakes, vinyl siding, and plastic components in high-risk zones
(2) Vents & Eaves: Keep Embers Out
Flying embers cause up to 90% of home ignitions during wildfires. Small openings like attic vents and eaves are easy entry points.
Fire-smart vent upgrades inculde:
Ember-resisitant vents covers
1/8-inch metal mesh screens
Enclosed soffits and eaves
We make sure all vunerable openings are sealed and screeded properly during construction.
(3) Defensible Space: Build With Distance in Mind
In Oregon, defensible space isn’t just good practice—it’s becoming required in many areas. This involves clearing flammable vegitation within 30-100 feet of the structure.
Our team helps with:
Site planning to maximize setback
Grading to direct fire and smoke away from the structure
Working around slopes, wind patterns, and fuel sources
If you’re in a WUI zone, we make sure your landscape and hardscape layout meets Oregon’s current fire-safe standards
(4) Decks, Fences & Outbuildings: Hidden Hazards
Wooden fences and decks can act as fire highways straight to your home. We build smarter by:
Using non-combustable deck boards or fire-treasted lumber
Separating wood fences from buildings with metal gates or breaks
Keeping under-deck areas cleared and screened to avoid ember traps
Even your shop, garage, or barn needs to meet certain fire-safety standards depending on proximity and use.
(5) Windows & Doors That Withstand Heat
Windows are vulnerable to breakage under radiant heat. We reccomend:
Tempered glass (especially for larger windows)
Metal-clad or fiberglass doors
Fewer large openeings on the fire-facing side of your structure
Well-sealed, fire-rated entry points can make a huge difference.
DO OREGON’S NEW FIRE CODES AFFECT YOU?
If you’re building in one of Oregon’s mapped wildfire hazzard areas, your project may be subject to:
Defensible space requirements
Fire-resisitant construction standards
Local county building ordinances tied to WUI zones
The Forged Build teram stays up to date on these evolving codes
FIRE-SMART DOESN’T MEAN OVERBUILT
Some people assume fire-resisitant construction means extra cost or boring design. Not true. Many modern, attractive materials like standing seam metal roofs, board-and-batten fiber cement siding, and metal soffits look amazing and outpreform traditional wood in both function and aesthetics.
At Forged Built, we balance durability, safety, and esign so you can have the look you want—without compromising security.
Here is how Forged Built can help:
Site-specific planning and grading
Fire-resisitant material selection
Building code compliance
working with septic, utilities, and sccess in rural zones
Smart, beautiful design that protects your long-term invesment
At Forged Built, we believe the best builds are those that not only stand the test of time—but the unexpected challenges nature throws your way.
If you are ready to build smart, beautiful, and strong contact us today!
Call or Text (971) 486-6587
Levi@forgedbuilt.com
We are also on Facebook
