Oregon State Fire Marshal Structure Protection Training Coming to Lookingglass and Winston June 13

A large house with a red roof stands out against a backdrop of blackened land from a recent fire. Green vegetation surrounds it.
The image shows several buildings wrapped in shiny material, surrounded by trees along a dirt road.
A large house with a red roof stands out against a backdrop of blackened land from a recent fire. Green vegetation surrounds it.
The image shows several buildings wrapped in shiny material, surrounded by trees along a dirt road.

LOOKINGGLASS, OR – Residents throughout the Lookingglass and Winston communities may notice an increased presence of firefighters, fire apparatus, and emergency response vehicles on Saturday, June 13, 2026, as the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) conducts a Structure Assessment and Preparation Training in Douglas County.

The training will bring together firefighters and emergency responders from multiple agencies across Oregon to develop and refine the skills needed to protect homes and communities during large wildfire incidents and state mobilizations.

Preparing for Oregon's Growing Wildfire Threat

As wildfire seasons continue to grow in length, intensity, and complexity, fire agencies throughout Oregon are placing greater emphasis on structure protection—the process of assessing, preparing, and defending homes and buildings threatened by wildfire.

During major wildfire incidents, local resources can quickly become overwhelmed. When this occurs, the Governor may invoke Oregon's Emergency Conflagration Act, allowing the Oregon State Fire Marshal to mobilize firefighters and resources from across the state to assist communities facing imminent threats to life and property.

These mobilizations have become an increasingly important component of Oregon's wildfire response strategy, with firefighters from dozens of agencies working together to protect homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure during large-scale incidents.

What is Structure Protection?

Structure protection involves evaluating and preparing homes and buildings to improve their chances of surviving a wildfire. These operations often occur before a wildfire reaches a community and focus on reducing vulnerabilities while increasing the effectiveness of firefighting efforts.

Structure protection activities may include:

  • Structure triage and survivability assessments
  • Home Ignition Zone evaluations
  • Defensible space assessments
  • Removal of immediate ignition hazards
  • Portable sprinkler system deployment
  • Installation of protective structure wrap
  • Water supply and access evaluations
  • Determining structure defendability and firefighter safety considerations

These tactics have proven effective throughout the western United States and are a critical component of modern wildfire response operations.

Training Overview

The June 13 training will begin with classroom instruction at the Winston-Dillard Fire Station before transitioning to properties in the Lookingglass area for hands-on practical exercises.

Training objectives include:

  • Structure triage and assessment
  • Wildfire structure protection tactics
  • Home ignition zone evaluation
  • Portable sprinkler system installation and operation
  • Structure wrap deployment
  • Incident operations during conflagration and mobilization events

Participants will gain practical experience using the same techniques and equipment utilized during real-world wildfire incidents across Oregon.

Participating Agencies

The training will include firefighters and emergency responders from:

  • Sutherlin Fire Department
  • Central Douglas Fire & Rescue
  • Canyonville South Umpqua Fire District
  • Lookingglass Rural Fire District
  • Tenmile Rural Fire District
  • Elkton Rural Fire Protection District
  • Glide Rural Fire Protection District
  • North Douglas County Fire & EMS
  • Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA)
  • Harrisburg Fire & Rescue
  • Fair Oaks Fire Department

The participation of agencies from throughout Douglas County and beyond demonstrates the importance of mutual aid, interoperability, and regional cooperation during wildfire emergencies.

What Residents Can Expect

Residents may observe fire engines, brush units, command vehicles, support vehicles, and firefighters conducting training activities throughout the day. Portable sprinkler systems and structure wrap demonstrations may also be visible at designated training locations.

These activities are part of a planned training exercise and do not indicate an active emergency.

Learn More About Wildfire Preparedness

The Oregon State Fire Marshal provides several resources to help homeowners reduce wildfire risk and improve the survivability of their property:

Lookingglass Rural Fire District is proud to partner with the Oregon State Fire Marshal and neighboring agencies to ensure firefighters remain prepared to protect our communities when wildfire threatens. Training today helps ensure a safer and more effective response when the next wildfire emergency occurs.