Funding Guidelines
Deschutes County has allocated $50,000 for the fall of 2026 to fund fuel reduction projects aimed at
reducing wildfire risk in Deschutes County communities. Preference will be given to communities or
neighborhoods that are working towards or have already achieved recognition as a Firewise USA
site and are proposing projects consistent with their Firewise action plan and community
assessment
Purpose
Fuel Reduction grants are designed to assist communities with specific, short-term projects or activities related to reducing fuels and improving defensible space.
Activities eligible for funding include, but are not limited to:
• equipment rental
• Supplies for community work parties
• Contracting fees for roadside chipping, fuel reduction or defensible space creation
• Debris disposal fees
Requests for regular annual maintenance (i.e. pine needle raking and removal) and ongoing operational funding that cannot be sustained beyond the grant period are discouraged.
Eligibility
Applicants must work at a neighborhood or community scale to reduced wildfire risks, individual properties are not eligible. Activities should focus on reducing wildland fuels and/or improving defensible space around structures.
Funding
The funding available through June 30. 2027 is $50,000. There are no minimum or maximum limits on grant requests, however awards are anticipated to range between $100 and $5,000. Actual award amounts will depend on demand.
Application
Applicants must complete and submit one electronic form. Competitive applications will include some matching resources (cash, volunteer time, or goods and services), though a match is not required. Applicants must provide a tax ID number with their application. Communities without a tax ID number are required to provide a fiscal sponsor with a tax ID.
Timelines
The first round of applications will be accepted from September 1 through September 30.. 2026. Reviews will begin shortly thereafter, with potential site visits during the evaluation. Applicants will be notified by early November. Late applications, received after September 30. may be considered if funding is available
Project work and reporting must be completed by June 30, 2027
The UDRC will help property owners within the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District with the cost of creating or maintaining defensible space for wildfire risk reduction. The UDRC will reimburse your expenses for licensed contractors, rental equipment, and home hardening materials up to $500 maximum. One application from a sole or joint property owner will be accepted for work completed.
For work after August 1 and completed by December 15, 2026
Applicants for the Reimbursement Program may not apply for the Low-income Senior program in the same year. The UDRC will not reimburse work completed before your application is approved. Your work plan must include examples of wildfire fuels reduction or home hardening listed on the application form. To apply for the 2026 Spring Defensible Space Reimbursement Program https://udrc.org/programs/ for the online application form.
The Low-income Senior or Disabled Defensible Space program provides assistance to property owners who cannot do the work themselves or afford to hire someone else to do the work. UDRC has partnered with Council on Aging of Central Oregon to provide free wildfire fuels reduction services for low-income senior or low-income disabled homeowners within the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District. Click here for a printable flyer describing the program. Click here to print the mail-in application form or call UDRC at 541-815-1362 to request an application form.
Applicants for the Low-income Senior or Low-income Disabled Program may not apply for the Reimbursement Program in the same year.
Please reach us at pppoafirewise@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Project Wildfire is the result of a Deschutes County effort to create long-term wildfire mitigation strategies and provide for a disaster-resistant community. Created by Deschutes County Ordinance 8.24.010, Project Wildfire is the community organization that facilitates, educates, disseminates and maximizes community efforts toward effective fire planning and mitigation. Our mission is to prevent deaths, injuries, property loss and environmental damage resulting from wildfires.
The Project Wildfire Neighborhood Coalition (PWNC) is a subcommittee of Project Wildfire with more than 40 members representing neighborhoods across Deschutes County, alongside agency partners such as Oregon State Fire Marshal, Bend Fire & Rescue, Oregon Department of Forestry, and Deschutes County. PWNC meets monthly to share expertise, mentor communities, and strengthen wildfire resilience.
When you fill out the appointment request form