(1) As used in this section, defensible space means a natural or human-made area in which material capable of supporting the spread of fire has been treated, cleared or modified to slow the rate and intensity of advancing wildfire and allow space for fire suppression operations to occur. (2) The State Fire Marshal shall administer a community risk reduction program that emphasizes education and methods of prevention with respect to: (a) Wildfire risk; (b) The creation of a model code for defensible space; (c) Response planning; and (d) Community preparedness for wildfires. (3) As part of the program, in consultation with the Oregon Fire Code Advisory Board, the State Fire Marshal shall create and make available to local governments a model code for defensible space that: (a) Includes standards that are consistent with, and do not exceed, the standards in the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (October 2024), published by the International Code Council, that pertain to defensible space, including the standards in sections 603 and 604 of the code; and (b) To the extent consistent with the standards in the code described in paragraph (a) of this subsection, results from a consideration of best practices specific to this state. (4) The State Fire Marshal may not require a local government to adopt the model code described in subsection (3) of this section. (5) As part of the program, the State Fire Marshal may provide financial, administrative, technical or other assistance to a local government to facilitate the creation of defensible space. (6) A local government shall expend financial assistance provided by the State Fire Marshal under subsection (5) of this section to give priority to the creation of defensible space: (a) On lands on which members of socially and economically vulnerable communities, persons with limited proficiency in English and persons of lower income, as defined in ORS 456.055, reside. (b) For critical or emergency infrastructure. (c) For schools, hospitals and facilities that serve seniors. Note: 476.392 to 476.398 were enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but were not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 476 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
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