Creating a Community 

Wildfire Protection Plan

May 2020
Creating a 

Community Wildfire 

Protection Plan

May 2020
Mission Statement

We support and strengthen fi re and emergency medical 

services and stakeholders to prepare for, prevent, mitigate 

and respond to all hazards.
Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan i

Table of Contents

Overview........................................................................................................................ 1

Key Stakeholders .......................................................................................................... 1

Identified Risk/Fire History Maps .............................................................................. 1

Assets at Risk ................................................................................................................ 2

Forest Health/Fire Fuels Class .................................................................................... 5

Action Plan .................................................................................................................... 6

Additional Information................................................................................................ 10

Signature Page .............................................................................................................. 10

Reference Materials ..................................................................................................... 11 
Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 1

Overview

This is not an all-inclusive document but a guide to assist 

you in creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 

(CWPP). Remember, the more agency representatives 

and resident leaders you include in helping you create the 

document, the better the plan you will have. Please note 

that items included as suggestions in the template are by no 

means inclusive of all components your community needs 

to work on. You will need to identify your own unique risks 

and create your own solutions.

Do not forget to connect with state and local entities who 

may also be able to provide you with additional guidance 

about local risks and code requirements. The state of 

Texas, for example, provides some excellent guidance on 

developing a CWPP. Please refer to the reference materials 

added to the end of this document for additional guidance.

 Key Stakeholders 

In this area, all individuals who live/work in the community, tribe(s), entities that manage 

infrastructure (cell towers, utilities, schools and other public facilities), those who provide 

emergency response (fire/police, etc.), land managers (federal, such as U.S. Forest Service 

(USFS) and U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), and state and local representatives, etc.), 

granges, 4-H groups, faith-based groups, resource conservation districts and everyone 

who is interested in participating in creating the CWPP.

Some communities also indicate whether a representative was contacted and declined 

to participate. This is not an all-inclusive list. You can add or subtract contacts as needed. 

The individuals participating should reflect the demographics of your community. The 

more participants that you include, the better the plan you will have by getting a real 

understanding about the needs and strengths in your jurisdiction, creating a whole 

community planning approach that includes all members of your community. 

For example, you should include individuals who have disabilities, pet and livestock 

owners, families, and seniors, and as much as possible, get an accurate representation of 

the people who live and work in the area to ensure that all their needs and strengths are 

included in your assessment.

 Identified Risk/Fire History Maps

This is where you document research completed before your community meeting that you 

have made available to everyone participating. This information helps everyone better 

understand the strengths and needs of the community and provides facts to speak to 

during your meeting. Be sure to include maps with your plan.

Check out the USFS’s brand-new risk-mapping tool for assistance with mapping and 

identifying community risk.

1. Fire history: The USGS provides some information. You can also work with your state 

forester or USFS, U.S. Park Service or DOI representatives to give you guidance if they 

are available.

This PDF file contains 

attachments that you 

might not be able to 

see if you view the file 

in your web browser. 

Save it to your device 

and open it in a PDF 

application like Adobe 

Acrobat. 



Click when you see this 

icon to download a 

template to complete, 

print and include with 

your plan.
Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 2

You can also draw your own design on a local map. It is important to understand fire 

history because sometimes wildfires will burn periodically in the same area. It is also 

important to understand what areas have burned in the past because wildfire may 

burn more intensely in an area that has not burned for many years.

Additional fire history information can also be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Forest Service’s “All Lands Wildfire Risk Portal.” This webpage also has information that 

can help you in the process of crafting creative wildfire safety project solutions.

2. Use a topographic map with assets at risk identified. Use USGS maps. These maps can 

be downloaded free of charge.

3. Use vegetation fuels class maps. Check with Landfire and/or a local forester. 

4. Use research about the demographics of the local population to identify capabilities and 

better understand how to work with and for the community. For example, is there a large 

number of residents who would need assistance in the event of an evacuation due to an 

aging population or residents without cars? Will educational/outreach materials need 

to be produced in more than one language or use infographics? Check out City-Data. 

5. Additional research tools that can help with data to assist communities located in 

much more rural areas are provided by Headwater’s Economics.

6. You may want to include a map identifying where fire and other emergency services 

buildings and resources are located, including fire stations and hydrant/water source 

locations.

Assets at Risk 

It is here where you define the conditions of the infrastructure/homes at a broad scale. 

It is highly encouraged that you consult a local, federal or state entity and/or a wildfire 

mitigation specialist to assist you.

You want to take a comprehensive look at conditions that are common to homes in the 

area; remember, you are not individually assessing each home but rather are looking at 

the community as a whole. If the community you are assessing is large, you may want 

to create sections for the various neighborhoods and homeowners associations (HOAs), 

identifying home components that lend themselves to home ignition from embers in each 

neighborhood depending on the type of home construction found there. 

Research has shown that most homes/structures ignite and burn during a wildfire because 

of construction components that lend themselves to easily ignite and because of poor 

landscape maintenance around the home. As you identify common characteristics of 

homes typically found in the area and define areas of home/infrastructure construction 

that could contribute to structure ignition, you can identify actions that can reduce your 

risk of loss. Some of these design features could include things such as wood shake 

shingle roofs; stucco roofs without bird stops; gutters that are full of material because 

of overhanging trees; open eaves; decks with material stored underneath; dry, dead 

vegetation and trash (human treasures) immediately next to homes and outbuildings; 

and others, focusing on the first 5 feet. 
Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 3

For assistance, refer to the U.S. Fire Administration flyer, the Institute for Business and 

Home Safety, the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network Self-Assessment Tool and 

the National Fire Protection Association.

Below is an example table to help you. This is not all inclusive; please add your own 

identified potential ignition sources.

Example

Home structure 

component 

Potential ignition 

source Home maintenance suggestion

Decks Material stored 

underneath.

Remove and place in closed shed, 

replace, or treat with ignition-resistant 

materials.

Gutters Leaves and pine 

needles in gutters.

Clean frequently, especially before fire 

season.

Eaves Large gaps around. Caulk or fill and paint over.

Vents Open unscreened. Screen with metal screen of about 1/8 

inch or replace with baffled or other 

fire-resistive vents.

Roofs Poorly maintained, 

made of wood shakes 

or other combustible 

material.

Replace roofs with ignition-resistant 

designs (e.g., Class A, metal).

Home siding Poorly maintained, 

made of wood shakes 

or other combustible 

material.

Replace home siding with ignitionresistant designs (e.g., stucco).

Windows and 

doors

Single-pane windows, 

gaps around doors.

Replace windows with double-pane, 

tempered glass. Replace doors with 

fire-code rated ones. Seal gaps around 

windows and doors to keep embers out.

Landscape 

around homes

Overgrown with 

weeds; dry, dead 

vegetative matter; 

large flammable 

bushes under 

windows.

Pay special attention to make sure the 

area within the first 5 feet of the home 

is lean and green; remove open trash 

receptacles, building materials and trash 

from next to the home.

Stucco roof No bird stops at the 

ends.

Clean debris such as nests from 

openings and cement ends or add bird 

stops.

Fencing Flammable 

construction attached 

to the home.

Replace at least 5 feet of the flammable 

fence that attaches to the home.
Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 4

Do not forget to pay attention to outbuildings (sheds, chicken coops, etc.) that are within 

100 feet of the home that, when they burn, could cause the main structure to ignite. This 

is just a sample. Please add additional items that you identify.

Example

Outbuildings/

infrastructure

Potential ignition 

source Maintenance suggestion

Sheds Gas cans outside. Store inside locked shed, preferably 

inside a locker.

Chicken coops No door; hay and 

flammable material 

inside.

Install door.

Pump house Dead vegetation 

around outside.

Remove all flammable material from 

around the building focusing on the first 

5 feet and improving landscaping within 

100 feet.

Address the condition of community buildings such as schools and churches. Also examine 

the condition of the vegetation along the roads to improve evacuation needs. Are there 

at least two separate ways out of the community?

Identify updates needed to critical infrastructure such as public utilities. For example, if 

power to the area went out due to wildfire, would the local water facility still be able to 

supply water? Perhaps there is a need for an alternatively powered generator. Is there an 

area cleared around power poles? (This is something community members could work 

on in conjunction with the local utility company.) 

Example

Critical 

infrastructure Potential hazard Maintenance suggestion

Roads Roads are not properly 

marked with signs.

Install metal reflective signs that 

will make it easier for emergency 

responders in smoky conditions.

Fire station Vents are not screened on 

the bottom of the building 

and doors are not properly 

sealed.

Install 1/8-inch screen, and seal 

around doors to prevent embers 

from entering the building.

Power poles Dead vegetation growing 

around and tree limbs 

hanging over.

Work with the local utility 

company to remove all 

flammable material from around 

the power pole, especially within 

the first 5 feet, removing tree 

limbs hanging over power lines.
Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 5

It is important to include road departments and public works departments to address 

other infrastructure conditions. Another consideration is if bridges are load tested to 

ensure that fire trucks can use them safely. Are roads adequately identified with metal 

reflective signage that would not burn during a wildfire?

 Forest Health/Fire Fuels Class 

Using Landfire or other data and experienced foresters and/or wildfire mitigation 

specialists, examine the conditions of vegetation within and surrounding the community 

starting with landscaping surrounding the homes. Identify the general health of the 

natural area. Are there problems with invasive pests? Were there large storms in the area, 

and is there a lot of deadfall? Is there a need for prescribed fire, mechanical or chemical 

treatments to reduce fuel load? 

Be sure that you refer to experienced, credentialed specialists. A certified arborist can 

help with landscaping questions surrounding homes, and a certified forester (agency 

representative or paid professional) may be someone to whom you refer to help you 

better understand what projects you can work on surrounding the community that can 

improve forest health.

Below is a sample. Your list will identify local forest health issues within and surrounding 

the community.

Forest/landscape health issues identified 

This list is just a sample. You will have your own unique insect and disease issues that 

you will need to identify with the help of credentialed specialists for guidance. The 

guidance to restore a resilient landscape may require mechanical work, prescribed fire 

or other methods implemented by qualified professionals. Again, if you are completing 

a CWPP for a large area, you may want to break up these forest/landscape health issues 

identified by neighborhood or HOA.

Health issue identified Professional guidance Action to improve forest/

landscape health

Insect issue example: 

oak mortality due to 

goldspotted oak borer

If located around 

homes, arborist/forester 

for landscape along 

roads and surrounding 

community.

Invasive plant issue 

example: cheatgrass

If located around homes, 

arborist/forester range 

specialist for landscape 

along roads and 

surrounding community.

Flammable vegetation 

issue example: deadfall 

due to windstorms

Depending on location: 

if surrounding homes, 

community effort; if 

located in natural area, 

consult forester or land 

manager.
Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 6

Health issue identified Professional guidance Action to improve forest/

landscape health

Invasive plant issue 

example: overgrowth of 

invasive bamboo

If located around homes, 

arborist/forester range 

specialist for landscape 

along roads and 

surrounding community.

Invasive plant issue 

example: invasive broom

Depending on location: 

if surrounding homes, 

community effort; if 

located in natural area, 

consult forester or land 

manager.

Example: Two important 

ways to manage brooms 

are mechanical removal 

and treatment with 

herbicides. Broom spreads 

through seed dispersal, so 

maintaining a healthy natural 

vegetation and reducing soil 

disturbance will minimize the 

spread of broom.

Unhealthy landscape 

issue example: overgrown 

woodlots between homes

Depending on location: 

if surrounding homes, 

community effort; if 

located in natural area, 

consult forester or land 

manager.

 Action Plan 

It is here where you identify and prioritize project work that needs to be completed in your 

community. This project work should be prioritized based upon what is identified as the 

greatest risk or where you can make the greatest impact. Identify the capability of your 

community to complete projects. Oftentimes it is preferable to start with simple low-cost 

projects that can be effective, and gain buy-in by community members. Sometimes you 

need to consolidate small wins into larger ones. 

Include activities that engage volunteer action. Youth groups can also provide assistance. 

Some colleges and high schools encourage youth to complete community service projects 

as part of their curriculum. 

Another source of volunteer manpower to complete project work may come from local 

businesses. These entities, such as various big box stores, may also donate materials or 

resources to help you with project work.

As you become more confident in completing identified projects, you may want to explore 

federal grant funding, but keep in mind that there will be a lot of financial and other project 

management activities that will need to be followed. Make sure that you have someone 

or a reputable group that can manage such project work. Below are just a few samples of 

project work that can help your community become safer in the event of a wildfire.

Make sure that you tie in your goals to the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management 

Strategy. 
Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 7

Action plan

Goal 1: Create fire-adapted communities.

Goal Crucial activities Success 

metric

Project lead and 

partners Importance

Pursue 

Firewise 

USA® site 

recognition.

Complete risk 

assessment 

with USFS, plan 

Firewise Day, 

write community 

action plan.

National 

recognition 

as a Firewise 

USA site by 

2021.

Project lead: local 

fire prevention 

officer, Happy Town 

Fire Department. 

Partners: USFS.

High

Provide 

information to 

recreational 

users about 

fire safety.

Posters about 

“One Less 

Spark – One Less 

Wildfire” at park 

kiosks.

Reduced 

number of 

recreational 

user wildfire 

ignitions.

Project lead: park 

ranger. 

Partners: Boy/Girl 

Scouts, other youth 

volunteers.

Medium

Reducing risks 

for home 

ignition.

Completing risk 

assessment of 

individual homes.

More homes 

compliant 

to local 

ordinances.

Project lead: 

community 

mitigation 

specialist/

building or code 

enforcement.

Partners: office of 

emergency service/

local resource 

conservation 

district.

High

Goal 2: Create fire-resilient landscapes through collaboration on public and private 

lands.

Goal Crucial activities Success 

metric

Project lead and 

partners Importance

Remove 

flammable 

material 

around 

homes in 

neighborhood

Organize 

community 

clean-up day. 

Secure a donated 

dumpster. Plan 

and host event.

Amount of 

material 

removed.

Project lead: local 

fire prevention 

officer, Happy Town 

Fire Department.

Partners: youth 

and other 

neighborhood 

grass-roots 

volunteer efforts.

High
Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 8

Goal Crucial activities Success 

metric

Project lead and 

partners Importance

Assist 

vulnerable 

populations 

with fuel 

reduction 

assistance.

Focus: helping 

to improve the 

wildfire safety 

of the whole 

neighborhood 

by helping 

those 

who need 

assistance.

Organize 

event to help 

homeowners 

who cannot do 

landscaping 

maintenance on 

their own.

Number of 

residents 

assisted.

Project lead: senior 

or community 

center coordinator. 

Partners: local 

volunteers, 

donations 

from private 

corporations.

High

Remove 

deadfall left by 

windstorms.

Focus: remove 

flammable 

materials 

located within 

the first 100 

feet around 

homes.

Secure the 

donation of a 

chipper, green 

dumpster or 

waste facility 

that allows 

green dumping. 

Advertise via 

local newsletter, 

banner at fire 

station or web 

page the time/

date when 

chipper or 

dump will be 

available to give 

homeowners 

adequate time to 

collect materials 

that have 

accumulated 

around their 

homes. 

Amount of 

material 

removed.

Project lead: 

community 

mitigation 

specialist/

building or code 

enforcement. 

Partners: office of 

emergency service/

local resource 

conservation 

district.

Medium
Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 9

Goal 3: Improve fire response capabilities. 

Goal Crucial activities Success 

metric

Project lead and 

partners Importance

Provide 

weather 

information 

to local 

emergency 

responders 

specially to 

assist with 

wildfire 

response.

Installing weather 

monitoring 

equipment 

and computer 

applications.

Provide 

daily 

updates 

and, during 

a wildfire 

weather 

event, 

hourly 

updates.

Project lead: local 

fire department. 

Partners: local 

emergency 

managers, USFS, 

perhaps private 

industry grant, 

National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric 

Administration.

High

Develop a 

communications 

plan for sending 

information and 

notices to the 

public.

Integrate with 

public alerts and 

warnings plan for 

status updates 

and instructions 

for evacuation; 

coordinate with 

community 

leaders.

Public is 

informed 

of current 

event 

status, 

what to do, 

where to go, 

and when 

and how to 

leave in an 

evacuation.

Local emergency 

manager, fire 

department, 

communications 

team, emergency 

alert staff, and 

local news and 

weather affiliates, 

and coordinate 

with community 

leaders.

High

Identify water 

sources.

Add reflective 

blue marker in 

center of road 

where hydrant is 

located.

Number of 

hydrants 

marked 

throughout 

the 

community.

Project lead: water 

district/public 

works department 

in collaboration 

with local fire 

district. 

Partners: grant 

from federal 

program or private 

industry.

Medium
Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 10

  Additional Information

Additional information can include firefighting capabilities, needed memorandums of 

agreement between other entities, and future development plans for the community. 

Note that this document is a living document, which means that it needs to be revisited 

and updated as project work is completed, maintenance items are identified, or the 

community expands and includes new partners. Make sure that you make the document 

available for everyone to look at and approve before implementing.

Signature Page 

The Healthy Forests Restoration Act requires three signatures from applicable city or 

county, (tribal) government, local fire department(s), and the state entity responsible for 

forestry. Additional signatories can be added but are not required. 

It is not required, but if you wish, you could include representatives from all groups that 

participated.
Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan 11

 Reference Materials

Community Wildfire Protection Plan. (n.d.). National Wildfire Coordinating Group online 

glossary. https://www.nwcg.gov/term/glossary/community-wildfire-protectionplan-cwpp

CWPP Task Force members. (2008, August). Community guide to preparing and implementing 

a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Forests and Rangelands. https://www.

forestsandrangelands.gov/documents/resources/communities/CWPP_Report_

Aug2008.pdf

Jakes, P., Burns, S., Cheng, A., Saeli, E., Nelson, K., Brummel, R., Grayzeck, S., Sturtevant, 

V., & Williams, D. (2007, March). Critical elements in the development and 

implementation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs). In B. W. Butler, 

W. Cook, comps, The fire environment—Innovations, management, and policy; 

conference proceedings. 26-30, Destin, Florida. Proceedings RMRS-P-46CD. Fort 

Collins, Colorado: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain 

Research Station. CD-ROM. p. 613-624. https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/

pubs/28604

Jakes, P. J. (2012). Best management practices for community wildfire protection plans. U.S. 

Forest Service, Research and Development Group. https://www.fs.fed.us/research/

highlights/highlights_display.php?in_high_id=48

Jakes, P. J., Nelson, K. C., Enzler, S. A., Burns, S., Cheng, A. S., Sturtevant, V., Williams, D., 

Bujak, A., Brummel, R. F., Grayzeck-Souter, S., & Staychock, E. (2011). Community 

wildfire protection planning: Is the Healthy Forests Restoration Act’s vagueness 

genius? International Journal of Wildland Fire, 20: 350-363. https://www.fs.usda.

gov/treesearch/pubs/38474

Landfire. (n.d.). https://www.landfire.gov/

U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). Fuels management. Office of Wildland Fire. https://

www.doi.gov/wildlandfire/fuels

Wildland Fire Policy Committee. (n.d.). Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWWP) - Leader’s 

guide. International Association of Fire Chiefs. https://www.iafc.org/topics-andtools/resources/resource/community-wildfire-protection-plan-leaders-guide

Williams, D. R., Jakes, P. J., Burns, S., Cheng, A., & Nelson, K. (2009). Community wildfire 

protection plans: Enhancing collaboration and building social capacity. JFSP 

Research Project Reports. Paper 144. https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/

pubs/53687

Forests and Rangelands. (2004, March). Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

https://www.forestsandrangelands.gov/documents/resources/communities/

cwpphandbook.pdf
16825 South Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

www.usfa.fema.gov

May 2020