How to be a Recognized Firewise Community

THE PROCESS TO BECOME a recognized Firewise community is simple, regardless of where you live. Here's how to get started: 

Step 1: Contact Firewise
Notify the Firewise Communities representative in your state or log onto the Firewise/USA Communities Web site at www.firewise.org to express your interest in starting the process.
Step 2: Site Visit
A wildland/urban interface specialist will contact you to schedule a site visit. This visit will be coordinated with local fire officials. During the visit, your specialist will collect information for a community assessment. 
Step 3: Community Representatives
Gather together community representatives and create a multi-disciplined Firewise board. Besides homeowners and fire professionals, this board can include planners, land managers, urban foresters and/or members of other interest groups.
Step 4: Assessment & Evaluation
Once the community assessment and evaluation are completed, the wildland/urban interface specialist will schedule a meeting with your Firewise board. The assessment and evaluation will be presented for review and acceptance. 
Step 5: Create Plan
The Firewise board will use the assessment information to create agreeable, area-specific solutions to your wildfire issues. The specialist may work with your community to identify and seek project implementation funds, should they be necessary. 
Step 6: Implement Solutions
Local solutions will be implemented according to a schedule designed by your Firewise board and the wildland/urban interface specialist. This includes creating a permanent Firewise task force or committee to maintain the program into the future.
Step 7: Apply for Recognition
You can apply for Firewise Communities/USA status when your implementation plan and one local project have been completed. The National Firewise Program will confirm receipt of your application package. Application forms are available on the Firewise Communities/USA Web site.


RECOGNIZED 
FIREWISE COMMUNITIES
Briargate, Florida
Emigration Canyon, Utah
Genesee, Colorado
Greater Eastern Jemez Wildland/Urban 
Interface Corridor, New Mexico
Hyde Park Estates & Aztec Springs, 
New Mexico
Perry Park, Colorado
River Bluff Ranch, Washington
Sundance, Utah
Timber Ridge, Arizona
Wedgefield, Florida
Whiting Woods, California
Wilderness Ranch, Idaho