OAR 629-044-1085
Fuel Break Requirements

(1)

The purpose of a fuel break is to:

(a)

Slow the rate of spread and the intensity of an advancing wildfire; and

(b)

Create an area in which fire suppression operations may more safely occur.

(2)

A fuel break shall be a natural or a human-made area where material capable of allowing a wildfire to spread:

(a)

Does not exist; or

(b)

Has been cleared, modified, or treated in such a way that the rate of spread and the intensity of an advancing wildfire will be significantly reduced.

(3)

A primary fuel break shall be comprised of one or more of the following:

(a)

An area of substantially non-flammable ground cover. Examples include asphalt, bare soil, clover, concrete, green grass, ivy, mulches, rock, succulent ground cover, or wildflowers.

(b)

An area of dry grass which is maintained to an average height of less than four inches.

(c)

An area of cut grass, leaves, needles, twigs, and other similar flammable materials, provided such materials do not create a continuous fuel bed and are in compliance with the intent of subsections (1) and (2) of this rule.

(d)

An area of single specimens or isolated groupings of ornamental shrubbery, native trees, or other plants, provided they are:

(A)

Maintained in a green condition;

(B)

Maintained substantially free of dead plant material;

(C)

Maintained free of ladder fuel;

(D)

Arranged and maintained in such a way that minimizes the possibility a wildfire can spread to adjacent vegetation; and

(E)

In compliance with the intent of subsections (1) and (2) of this rule.

(4)

A secondary fuel break shall be comprised of single specimens or isolated groupings of ornamental shrubbery, native trees, or other plants, provided they are:

(a)