Mt. emily
Firewise® Community
Who are we?
Located near the Mt. Emily Recreation Area (MERA) outside of La Grande, Oregon, the Mt. Emily Firewise Community is a small neighborhood of approximately 13 homes and properties working together to reduce wildfire risk and improve community preparedness. Motivated by ongoing drought conditions, increasing wildfire risk, and the challenges of living alongside a popular recreation area, residents came together to take a proactive approach to protecting their homes and surrounding landscape. The community received Firewise USA® recognition in 2024.
Wildfire preparedness has been a priority for Mt. Emily residents for several years. Since 2021, neighbors have invested significant time and effort into reducing hazardous fuels, improving defensible space, and strengthening the resilience of their properties. Individual households have contributed approximately 80–100 hours of fuels reduction work, alongside community efforts that include Home Ignition Zone assessments, vegetation removal, and wildfire preparedness education. With support from local partners, including the Oregon Department of Forestry and Union Soil and Water Conservation District, the community has also developed a wildfire risk assessment and action plan to guide future efforts.
Looking ahead, the Mt. Emily Firewise Community remains focused on continuing fuels reduction projects, securing additional funding, and evaluating water availability for firefighting. While coordinating schedules and identifying shared priorities can be challenging, residents recognize the value of working together to create a safer, more fire-resilient neighborhood. Their advice to other communities just getting started? Begin with a social gathering where neighbors can share what they're already doing to prepare for wildfire and build on those efforts together.
