As Fire Season Approaches People Clear Yards, Results Of Fire Free Event

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Bend, Ore. – The warm summer-like weather across central Oregon served as a timely reminder that residents can take simple steps to create defensible space and prepare their homes for wildfire.

This past weekend marked the first FireFree weekend at Knott Landfill, the Westside Transfer Station and the Box Canyon Transfer Site in Jefferson County for residents to dispose of yard waste for FREE in an effort to create and maintain defensible space around homes – in the “Home Ignition Zone”.

Bend area residents responded by bringing 5,533 cubic yards of flammable yard waste to Knott Landfill while residents on Bend’s west side took advantage of the convenient West Side Collection Site and recycled 2,431 cubic yards of pine needles and other debris.

Residents in Jefferson County also responded by bringing 1,972 cubic yards of yard debris to Box Canyon Transfer Station in Madras over the weekend.

The overall total collected for the first round of FireFree events was 9,936 cubic yards, which is a 31.5% increase from last year!

“The Home Ignition Zone is the most vulnerable part of residential property when a wildfire is nearby”, states FireFree Program Coordinator Alison Green.

A home is more at risk from fire damage caused by glowing embers that ignite pine needles and other debris on roofs, in gutters and under decks than from damage caused by advancing flames.

Debris will be accepted at the Knott Landfill in Bend all this week through Saturday May 9. Hours are 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM. The West Side Collection Site on Simpson Ave in Bend will accept debris Friday & Saturday May 8 & 9. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

If you see local news happen, call the Horizon Broadcasting Group News Tip Hotline at 541-323-NEWS, or email us.

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