Sisters City Council plans public hearing on new-home hardening rules to curb wildfire dangers
KTVZ
SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Sisters City Council will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19, as it considers new building hardening rules to make new homes more resistant to wildfires.
If adopted, the standards under Oregon Residential Specialty Code Section R327 – Wildfire Hazard Mitigation. would apply to new dwellings and their accessory structures within the city limits, enhancing local wildfire resiliency through building hardening measures.
The City Council identified wildfire mitigation and community resiliency as a key goal for the 2025–26 fiscal year, including the adoption of building hardening standards through the Sisters Municipal Code (SMC).
These standards are designed to make new homes more resistant to wildfire damage by using ignition-resistant materials and construction techniques that reduce the spread of fire.
Together with defensible space practices, these improvements reduce the likelihood that nearby wildfires will ignite structures and help protect both life and property, city officials said Friday.
“This action is part of an ongoing commitment by the city to mitigate the impacts of wildfire and build a more resilient community.,” they said in a news release.
Community members are encouraged to attend and provide public testimony regarding the proposed adoption of ORSC Section R327 – Wildfire Hazard Mitigation.
Meeting information is available at www.ci.sisters.or.us/meetings