What are we doing?
The City of Ashland, partnering agencies and members of our community are practicing a community-wide wildfire evacuation drill on the morning of Saturday, October 11, 2025. This will help individuals, families and neighborhoods experience what it’s like to receive an evacuation message, gather items, leave efficiently and practice their evacuation routes. We are preparing together to build a more resilient community, together.
How are we doing it?
Remember, this is a DRILL, not a real event. Our local wildfire risk and chances of needing to evacuate during fire season is real. During the drill, stay steady and be patient with yourself and others. This drill will test our individual evacuation plans, build muscle memory for real events and we’ll all learn how to do evacuations better together. This event will be supported by our emergency responders and response agencies who will also learn from everyone who participates in this event.
When are we doing it?
The drill will kick off at 9:30 a.m. on October 11. Registered participants will receive notification on their devices telling them to begin their evacuation drill. The drill ends at 11:30 a.m. Register now, while there is still time!
How much time will we have?
Participants in the drill can make time to gather items they would take with them if they were notified of an evacuation. Again, the drill starts at 9:30 a.m. We would encourage participants to track how long it takes them to load up their items and then head toward the drill destination, keeping in mind that the drill will end at 11:30 a.m.
Where are we going?
For this drill, the drill destination for registered participants is the Ashland Municipal Airport 403 Dead Indian Memorial Road Ashland, OR 97520. Please look up your route ahead of time and plan how you will get there. Bonus Points: See if there is more than one route that you could take.
What routes will be open?
All roads and routes in Ashland will be open. Your path is up to YOU. Please use the most optimal route of travel to the Ashland Airport from your location. If you live in ASH-009 (Zone 9) or nearby, please know that with the support of Oregon Department of Transportation, the North Mountain Escape Ramp will be open for participants to use during the evacuation drill.
How can we Be READY before the drill?
Who should participate?
Everyone is encouraged to take part—residents, students, businesses and visitors. This is a chance for our whole community to be better prepared together.
Check the City’s evacuation drill webpage for updates as the drill day comes closer, ashlandoregon.gov/EvacDrill.
There will be additional pre-drill notification updates sent out to registered participants on or around October 6. These updates will have additional evacuation drill details (including a During-The-Drill Checklist).
More questions or needs? Email Ashland’s Emergency Management Coordinator, Kelly Burns.
Don’t wait. Sign up today and take this important step toward a safer, more resilient Ashland. We are Better Together!
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