Lane County Firewise Improvements Grant

The Firewise Improvements Grant, administered by the Lane County Land Management Division, is designed to help rural homeowners in Lane County, Oregon, fortify their homes against the threat of wildfires. This program is funded through Title III of the Federal Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Program, a provision under Section 601 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. The grant provides financial support to homeowners for implementing structural and landscaping improvements that increase a home's survivability during wildfire events. The grant provides reimbursement-based financial assistance of up to $15,500 per property for a range of fire-prevention upgrades. Eligible improvements include replacing wood shake roofs with noncombustible materials, installing fire-resistant windows, doors, and siding, thinning and pruning vegetation to create defensible space, planting low fire risk plants, installing irrigation systems and water storage tanks, screening vents, and installing spark arrestors on chimneys. These improvements are based on current wildfire prevention research and are intended to mitigate risk and enhance fire preparedness. To qualify, applicants must own property located in rural Lane County, specifically outside the Urban Growth Boundary of any city in the county. Grant funding applies only to the primary residence on the property. Applicants may only receive funding for two residences annually. Additionally, a property must be susceptible to wildfire, as determined by a site visit conducted by program staff. Structural improvement applicants must agree to create and maintain a defensible space, which is a treated or cleared area that reduces fire intensity and facilitates suppression efforts. All reimbursable improvements, except for specific low-cost items like fire-resistant plantings, spark arrestors, and vent protection, must be completed by a licensed contractor or landscaper. Property owners are responsible for hiring and coordinating the contractor’s work and ensuring timely completion, within six months of formalizing the grant agreement. Applicants are required to submit a signed application form, identifying all intended improvements, by the deadline to be considered in the program’s priority lottery system. The application period for the 2025 grant cycle runs from May 1, 2025, at 8:00 AM through May 30, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Applications must be submitted to the Lane County Land Management Division. Previous applicants from 2024 who were waitlisted are encouraged to reapply. Interested parties may request a paper application, apply in person at the Public Works Customer Service Center, or download the application from the county's website. For additional information or assistance, applicants can contact the Firewise Program via email at FirewiseProgram@LaneCountyOR.gov or by phone at 541-682-6522.