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Why go Firewise?

Firewise USA® Assistance

The Firewise USA program, run by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and reviewed by CALFIRE, helps communities enhance fire safety in wildfire-prone areas. With 2000+ recognized communities nationwide, the decade-long program has proven multiple instances of structure loss during a wildfire event.

RCFSC, in collaboration with the El Dorado Hills Fire Department and Rescue Fire Department, aids communities in becoming Firewise Communities. Our Regional Coordinators host monthly virtual workshops to inform the public on the latest Firewise information. See our events page for more details.

Interested communities must complete six steps to earn recognition as a Firewise Community. Click on each step below to learn more.

 

Create a board or committee with 3-5 representatives, including a Resident Leader as the point of contact. You may invite local stakeholders to join.
Complete the Firewise USA Community Risk Assessment, updating it every 5 years. As an option, you can connect to VRFSC’s Regional Coordinator or local fire department to gather more information to complete this document. Create a Site Map: Outline boundaries and include visible street names for sites with a minimum of 8 - 2500 homes. View the Community Risk Assessment here.
Fill out a 3-year Action Plan, specifying annual goals with measurable progress. Find the 3-year Action Plan Template here.
Each year you must report your wildfire risk reduction activities on your Firewise portal. At a minimum, each site is required to annually invest the equivalent of 1 volunteer hour per dwelling unit in wildfire risk reduction actions. For example, if your site has identified 100 homes within its boundary, then 100 hours of work or the monetary equivalent ($29.95 per dwelling unit) is required to meet this investment. Methods to record this investment vary by community, below are a few examples.
Each year you must host an annual outreach event for your community that discusses your Action Plan.
At any stage of the process, you can create an account at portal.firewise.org. Choose an official community name, upload completed documents, and submit the application.
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