Program Overview
Lane County offers financial grants to residents who are interested in making landscaping or structural improvements to their properties in order to help increase the survivability of their homes in the event of a wildfire. To qualify for financial assistance you just need to own a home in rural Lane County that is at risk to wildfire - that's it! Up to $15,500 is available for qualifying properties. The
grant incentives are based on current wildfire research that help your home greatly reduce its chance of catching during a wildfire.
The Firewise Grant program is administered by the Lane County Land Management Division's Long Range Planning and Building programs, with funding provided through Title III of the Federal Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Program - Section 601 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
The Firewise Program is currently not accepting new applications. The 2020 Firewise Grant cycle is projected to open in early fall 2020 pending physical distancing measures with COVID-19. This website will be updated with projected opening dates as well as the application link once the 2020 Firewise Grant season opens. If you'd like to be added to our growing email notification list, please email firewiseprogram@lanecountyor.gov with your contact information.
Grants are awarded on a first time first served basis, with priority given to first time applicants. Homeowners can submit a maximum of two properties per grant cycle year for funding. Homeowners are eligible to apply for multiple rounds of reimbursement so long as the Defensible Space criteria is maintained in perpetuity. For example, if all vegetation was removed from a 2-foot radius of the house during the first round, there should be no vegetation in the 2-foot radius of the house in any future reimbursement periods. The Firewise Grant program will not provide funding for the same Defensible Space work that has already received funding, even if the vegetation has grown since that time.