Are you concerned about the risk of wildfire in your neighborhood? Join our fire resiliency and preparedness class to learn about essential skills and knowledge to protect your home and family.  

The class will cover topics such as wildfire risk evaluation, home hardening, creating defensible space around the home, preparing for evacuation, and fire-resistant plants of the Willamette Valley. The class will be taught by local experts from Oregon State Extension, Silverton Fire District, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.  

The class will take place at the Oregon Garden utilizing their fire safety demonstration house. Enroll now to strengthen your ability to assess and mitigate wildfire risks in your community!  RSVP is required for this free event. Please note: space is limited: a pass to the Oregon Garden does not guarantee a space for you at this event. Scroll down to RSVP now. 

Presenters

• Kayla Bordelon – OSU Extension Regional Fire Specialist for the Willamette Valley and North Cascades. In this role, she supports community and landscape fire resiliency projects and carries out education and outreach about fire awareness, preparedness, and risk reduction. Dr. Bordelon holds a PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho’s College of Natural Resources, with an emphasis on wildfire education and communication. She has served in various natural resource education roles with the National Park Service, Forest Service, Peace Corps and a variety of non-profit organizations. Bordelon grew up in the Willamette Valley and is proud to serve residents of her home region as we all learn more about how to live well with fire.
• Stephanie Stafford – Fire Risk Reduction Specialist at the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal. Her primary focus is wildfire risk reduction. She serves Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties. Stephanie has worked for 15 years at the OSFM where she previously served as the Fire Prevention Coordinator. She chaired the Oregon Life Safety Team, providing both structural and wildland fire safety programs and campaigns to fire agencies and community partners. She developed the Bigfoot: Believe in Fire Safety campaign for wildfire prevention and preparedness and has experience developing a variety of programs and resources related to wildfire, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, leading fire causes (i.e., cooking, smoking, electrical, heating, debris burning), home fire sprinklers, and home fire escape planning. She co-chaired the Oregon Fire Prevention Workshop committee, served on the National Fire Protection Association’s Public Education Network and Education Section Board, and served on the Board of Directors for Aumsville Rural Fire Protection District. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement from Western Oregon University, and a Certificate in Public Management from Willamette University. 
• The Silverton Fire District is a professional, full-service fire District that utilizes six paid firefighters, two paid clerical personnel and close to 70 volunteers who respond out of five stations spread across a 106 square mile area. The Fire District also services the city of Silverton and Scotts Mills and provides aid to surrounding Fire Districts when called on. Founded in 1883, the District has a rich history of serving the local community with dedication, expertise, and compassion. The Silverton Fire District provides fire protection, fire prevention, first response emergency medical services, and a range of other services to its community. Their team is staffed by highly skilled firefighters and emergency medical response personnel that work to respond to emergencies and provide critical care to those in need. In addition to emergency response services, the Silverton Fire District is also dedicated to preventing fires and other emergencies through public education and outreach programs to help raise awareness on the importance of fire safety and emergency preparedness. Whether it is responding to an emergency or providing education and outreach, the District is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of those it serves.  
• Brooke Edmunds – Community Horticulturist for OSU Extension in Marion, Polk, Linn, and Benton counties.  She oversees the Master Gardener volunteer programs in each county and teaches online and in-person gardening classes. Brooke answers hundreds of gardening questions each year including providing recommendations on fire-resistant landscape installations. Brooke’s background is in plant pathology and horticulture.  She has a Ph.D. in plant pathology from North Carolina State University and her M.S. and B.S. from Iowa State University.  She lives in Salem and greatly enjoys gardening with her kids and exploring Oregon’s hiking trails. 

Event Partners

The Oregon Garden, Sustainable Silverton, OSU Extension (Regional Fire Specialist and Master Gardeners), Oregon State Police- Office of State Fire Marshal, Silverton Fire District, and Doe Mountain, Oregon Department of Forestry. 

If you need special accommodations, including translation services, in order to participate, please call the event coordinator at 971-382-2000 or email kassi.roosth@marionswcd.net as far in advance as possible.