Wildfires are posing risks to more and more communities and are increasingly destructive. It goes without saying – it is becoming more vital to have a comprehensive community plan for mitigation, readiness, and action. 

Special districts across the country in fire-prone areas – especially the wildland urban interface (WUI) – are encouraged to develop Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), a federally-encouraged tool with resources offered through the U.S. Fire Administration geared toward communities mitigate fire risks within and around the community. The approach can be wide-ranging from performing outreach to community members for fire mitigation education, ensuring community safety and evacuation in case of fire, identifying hazards and forest health issues, and specifically outlining how communities will implement measures to meet CWPP goals.

CWPP is ideal for special districts providing fire protection, resource conservation, open space and recreation, and drinking water services in communities at risk of wildfire to collaborate for strong wildland fire resilience and adaptation measures. CWPP development alongside city and county governments further builds special districts’ all-important intersectional relationships within local government.

Explore your community’s wildfire risk using this interactive tool.

Established with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the U.S. Forest Service offers local governments about $200 million annually through the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) to advance projects in approved CWPP plans or to redevelop outdated plans. CWDG will likely re-open for the 2024 cycle in late July or early August. 

Check out the CWDG parameters to prepare your district for action when the application period opens this summer – including a review of program priorities for the most successful application.