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How to Become a Firewise Community
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Firewise Communities/USA is a unique opportunity available to America's fire-prone communities. Its goal is to encourage and acknowledge action that minimizes home loss to wildfire by preparing for a fire before it occurs. The Anchorage Fire Department is eager to implement this program in neighborhoods throughout the Municipality.
Firewise Communities/USA is a project of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's Wildland/Urban Interface Working Team. It provides citizens with the knowledge necessary to prepare and maintain a Firewise neighborhood while coordinating with the Anchorage Fire Department for effective emergency response. The program draws on a community's spirit, its resolve, and its willingness to take responsibility for its ignition potential.
Step 1: Contact the Anchorage Fire Department
Becoming recognized as a Firewise Community/USA begins with the community itself. A community representative contacts the Anchorage Fire Department's (AFD) Wildfire Mitigation Office at 267-4902. Additionally, there is an on-line form at www.firewise.org/usa.
Step 2: Complete a Neighborhood Wildfire Assessment
At a scheduled time, an AFD Forester will meet with the homeowners to evaluate the neighborhood. In this evaluation, the group will discuss home ignition potential, fuel reduction options, safety zones, access, and other important criteria. The evaluation will revolve around principles outlined in the Homeowner's Firewise Guide.
Step 3: Form a Firewise Board
Meanwhile, neighborhood homeowners create a multi-discipline Firewise committee that can include homeowners, fire professionals, and/or members of other interest groups. Participation by planners, land managers, urban foresters and/or members of other interest groups is also encouraged. Board members work together to develop a plan that prepares the neighborhood for a wildland-urban interface (WUI) fire. Full development of the WUI plan may take up to six months.
Step 4: Create a Plan
Upon completion of the Firewise assessment of the community's readiness to withstand a WUI fire, the AFD Forester schedules a meeting with the local Firewise board. The assessment is presented for review and acceptance. If the site assessment is accepted, the Firewise board uses it as a basis for creating a plan that contains agreed-upon, area-specific solutions to its wildfire issues. All members of the Firewise board must concur with the final decisions. Their recommendations are presented to, and approved by AFD. At that time, the group may determine methods for plan implementation, including funding.
Local solutions are implemented following a schedule designed by the local Firewise board and AFD. A permanent Firewise task force, committee, commission or department is created that will maintain the program into the future.
Step 5: Sponsor an Event
The plan prepared by the Firewise Board contains specific action items that can be implemented by homeowners with assistance from fire staff or other sources. When they are executed, they are called “Firewise Days.” A Firewise Day must be held each year in order to maintain recognition status. Firewise Days can include chipping days, public awareness events, brush clearing, or other activities.
Step 6: Invest a Minimum of $2 per Capita
Firewise Communities are able to quantify their concern about the wildfire issue. To this end, they are willing to invest $2/capita in Firewise projects each year. This means that in a community of 200 residents, $400 will be invested in projects names in the plan prepared by the Firewise Board. Volunteer hours, use of equipment, and time spent by agency fire staff can be included in this figure, as can state or federal grant dollars.
Step 7: Submit an Annual Report
Firewise Communities/USA recognition status is achieved when AFD receives the community’s completed Firewise plan, and after the community has completed one Firewise project. At that time, a Board member can download the Firewise Communities/USA application from the program’s web site at www.firewise.org/usa. AFD will forward the completed application to the national Firewise program office.
Recognition renewal is completed by December 31st each year. Recognized communities submit documentation indicating continued community participation to AFD. Renewal forms are downloadable at www.firewise.org/usa.
Click here for examples of a firewise home.
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