Firewise USA® Community Support

Wildfire Alliance and its affiliated partners work with communities to become nationally recognized Firewise USA® sites by NFPA.  The Alliance helps connect communities with entities that can provide hands-on support with program launch, wildfire risk assessments, action planning and annual compliance and certification.

If you’re a community, HOA, county or fire district interested in starting or growing or recertifying your Firewise program, Wildfire Alliance can help

How Wildfire Alliance Supports Communities

  1. Guide communities through the NFPA’s Firewise USA® start-up, from forming committees and engaging stakeholders to conducting wildfire risk assessments and creating 3-year action plans;
  2. Provide ongoing program management, grant strategy, and annual reporting to ensure communities maintain Firewise certification, secure funding, and achieve measurable risk reduction; and
  3. Our programs directly support our communities post-program implementation with stronger advocacy for federal funding and insurance support.

Our work:

Wildfire Alliance’s expertise and comprehensive understanding of wildfire related issues and programs, in addition to established working relationships with related state level officials, positions the Alliance to support Firewise communities by providing additional bandwidth, technical expertise, and program management support so communities can better implement and manage Firewise programs tailored to local conditions. 

Firewise Overview

01

Community-based, voluntary recognition

Firewise is driven by residents taking ownership of wildfire risk in cooperation with local fire authorities. 

02

Structured process & annual commitment

Communities must perform a wildfire risk assessment, adopt a 3-year action plan, host at least one educational event per year, invest local effort or funds in mitigation, and submit annual reporting to maintain NFPA recognition.

03

Home & neighborhood focus

The program emphasizes actions in the “Home Ignition Zone (HIZ)” (within ~100 feet of structures), home hardening, defensible space, and fuel reduction in shared areas. 

04

Educational & collaborative

Firewise fosters public awareness, volunteer mobilization, and partnerships among residents, fire departments, land managers, and utilities.