On October 11, 2025, the City of Ashland, Oregon, conducted a citywide Community Wildfire Evacuation Drill that engaged more than 300 residents, local agencies, and partner organizations from around the world.
Kelly Burns, the City of Ashland’s Emergency Manager and event organizer, noted that, “This coordinated evacuation exercise was one of only a handful of community-wide wildfire evacuation drills ever conducted in the United States. The drill provided an opportunity for residents to practice their evacuation plans and routes, test communication systems, and experience real-world evacuation conditions in a safe, controlled environment. Heartfelt appreciation for the time, energy, and partnership with the Resilience Institute, for without their collaboration the drill would not have been so incredibly successful.”