Published 10:00 am Monday, October 26, 2026

No community has fully adopted the state defensible space code to reduce the dangers of fire. But some are moving closer and using it as a guide, including Bend.

A defensible space code is a big change in how many people landscape their properties. It would basically mean keeping flammable things — bushes, tree limbs, groundcover — away from homes. Of course, for many, those kinds of things near a home are the ideal.

Complying with what’s smart to do to reduce wildfire danger could come with a high cost for property owners, too. On the more extreme end, it could cost even tens of thousands of dollars. And who wants to spend the money to take down a prized tree?

Bend City Councilors discussed the tradeoffs recently and want to move ahead both quickly and slowly.

The quick might be a kind of demonstration project.…