In August 2025, the Flat Fire started in Central Oregon. The fire spread rapidly due to hot, dry, and windy conditions. It quickly threatened homes and communities, including the City of Sisters. However, thanks to years of collaborative mitigation work on public and private lands, the fire resulted in minimal structure loss and damages.

This summary highlights the following key points:

• Multiple mitigation strategies are helpful in reducing wildfire risk, including home hardening, defensible space, fuel treatments, forest health projects
• Mitigation activities can help increase fire fighter safety and effectiveness
• Long-term investments and collaborative relationships yield positive mitigation outcomes

The Community Wildfire Planning Center wrote and developed the summary through a research joint venture agreement between CWPC and the U.S. Forest Service. The report contributes to Fueling Adaptation, a collaborative project of the U.S. Forest Service, CWPC, Portland State University, and the University of Colorado Denver. Research was based on invaluable information from multiple agencies engaged in Central Oregon wildfire mitigation activities, including the Oregon Department of Forestry, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, City of Sisters, Deschutes County, and the U.S. Forest Service.