NFPA Grant-Funded Defensible Space Demonstration Project
On May 30, 2026, the DSAT successfully completed a high-visibility Defensible Space Demonstration Project in La Pine, made possible by a $10,000 grant from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in partnership with State Farm. This grant supported Wildfire Community Preparedness Day initiatives and positioned NRP as one of only three Oregon recipients — and the sole Central Oregon organization — selected from over 100 applicants.
The project transformed a local property into a living classroom for wildfire preparedness, demonstrating practical techniques that residents can replicate in their own neighborhoods.
Key Outcomes of the Project
- Hands-on Defensible Space Creation: The team implemented comprehensive defensible space improvements, including vegetation management, removal of combustible materials, proper screening for vents and strategic landscaping in the critical zones around the home. Work was also completed on a neighboring property.
- Community Education and Engagement: The public demonstration event (held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) showcased real-world wildfire mitigation strategies. Attendees learned about zone-based defensible space assessments, power tool safety, forest health and resilient plants, home hardening, and a demonstration of Deschutes County’s Air Curtain Burner (ACB) to be used for the La Pine Mitigation Project over the next 5 years.
- Partnership Success: The project highlighted strong collaboration among Newberry Regional Partnership, La Pine Fire District, COIC Youth Compass Program, Oregon State Extension Services, Central Oregon Fire Prevention Co-op, Project Wildfire, and many local volunteers and organizations.
- Inspiration for Broader Action: By creating a visible model site, the demonstration encourages neighborhoods across Newberry Country to pursue similar improvements. It directly supports NRP’s strategic goal to expand funding, education, and resources for wildfire preparedness and prevention.
A Big Thank You to Our Supporters
We did it! After all the hard work and navigating weather challenges, the Demonstration Project was a great success.
Special thanks to our generous donors and supporters who helped make the day possible:
- La Pine Ace Hardware – for donating power tools for our drawing.
- La Pine Septic Service – for providing the porta-potty for volunteers and attendees.
- COIC Youth Compass Team, led by Nick Huggins and Matt – for their hard work and enthusiastic support on site.
Thank you to all the DSAT partners for your contributions.
We want to extend a special thanks to Kevin Moriarty. Without his organizational leadership and expertise, this project would not have been possible.
Another big thank you goes to Newberry Regional Partnership Community Coordinator Kathy DeBone. She took this project on with her usual energy and enthusiasm, providing a “can-do” attitude whenever we needed to move things forward. She is an amazing leader.
Kellyn Baez – Willamette Partnership, your behind-the-scenes facilitation skills were invaluable. Toby Weiss of Weiss Productions, LLC, it was such a pleasure working with you — your professionalism and experience were exceptional, and you made everyone appearing on camera feel comfortable. We look forward to seeing the final video product.
Thank you to Lauren, Jenna, Paul, and Heather — your presentations were amazing and kept the audience fully engaged with the information you provided.
Sam and Zach, the work you did on the forested areas is a thing of beauty. Many people commented on how the transformation improved the defensibility of the properties while maintaining privacy screening.
Finally, a big thank you to Jeannie and Ken Thorp. We could not have asked for more gracious and accommodating homeowners for this project. After reviewing over 60 properties, we truly found a winner.
This is just the beginning. NRP and DSAT will continue to grow as the primary resources for residents and businesses seeking defensible space information. It is incredible how far we have come since we first created DSAT in January 2025.
Join the Effort
Your neighborhood can benefit too! The DSAT offers free or low-cost defensible space assessments, presentations, and guidance on FireWise practices. Contact us to learn more or schedule an assessment.
Action Team Leader: Monte Dammarell – dsatmonte@gmail.com
Learn More: Visit our Defensible Space page or explore NRP’s Strategic Action Plan for additional wildfire resilience strategies.
Together, we’re building a Resilient Newberry Country — one defensible space at a time.