The map is gone—but change is still coming.
The wildfires we’re preparing for today don’t just rage in forests—they’re entering neighborhoods, destroying communities, and reshaping what it means to live safely in the west.
Two recent articles came across my desk in the new year that really underscore the stakes, along with our rapid shift in understanding the challenges we face.
A New York Times op-ed article titled “Which City Burns Next” lays out the challenge of bridging fire science with what it really takes to get communities ready—relationship-based work, long-term investments, and tough neighborhood conversations about risk and responsibility.
A San Diego Union Tribune Article discusses San Diego’s recently passed sweeping “Zone Zero” regulations requiring hardened homes and defensible space. This may be a sign of what’s to come for the rest of California—and very likely Oregon.
Here’s the reality: Legislative fixes are contentious. But the insurance market? That’s moving faster—and it’s forcing change whether we’re ready or not. As premiums climb or insurers disappear entirely, voluntary mitigation today might be the only way to preserve our choices tomorrow.
We’re already seeing many Oregon communities step up. But the window for voluntary action is closing. As our home assessment trainer put it last year: “Voluntary compliance works—but only for those who voluntarily comply.”
You don’t need to wait around for another legislative fix to arrive.
Don’t wait for a notice of non-renewal.
Now is the time to act.
San Diego Tribune
“New San Diego Fire Prevention Rules Introduce “Zone Zero” Requirements for Homeowners in High-Risk Areas”
by David Garrick