Firewise USA Program

How it works

Firewise Communities / USA is described on the page as a national program sponsored by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA). It is initiated at the grassroots level and is meant to empower homeowners to help protect their neighborhood.

The program encourages local solutions for safety by involving homeowners in taking individual responsibility for preparing their homes for wildfire risk. It also encourages neighbors to work together, take action now to reduce wildfire risk, and prevent losses. The page says communities that commit to being “Firewise” can reduce the risk of fire damage, learn about wildfires, adopt action plans, build relationships, and earn grant approval for disaster assistance.

What the program provides

The page says the program provides resources to help homeowners learn how to adapt to living with wildfire while working together as a community. It also points readers to Firewise brochures, Firewise community activities, Firewise news and resources, and the Firewise assessment process.

How to apply

The page says: “Let us show you the steps to become a Firewise Community.” For help getting started, homeowners can contact Karen Caldwell at tcfirewise@gmail.com. It also directs people to the national Firewise Communities / USA website to learn more about the program and begin the assessment process.

Timing and deadlines

The page does not give any application deadline or funding round. It presents Firewise as an ongoing voluntary program for communities interested in fire safety and disaster preparation.

Additional notes

The page also says many more resources are available from the Ready For Wildfire website from Cal Fire. The site lists Firewise-related pages for program benefits, FAQs, videos, news and resources, how to start a Firewise community, Tuolumne County Firewise communities, and Firewise community activities.