Executive Summary

Since the passage of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) in 2003, communities have been charged with becoming active partners in their own protection from wildfire. Drafting Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) in collaboration with state and local officials, communities identify prominent sources of fire risk, summarize structural ignitability concerns, and prioritize areas for fuels reduction treatment. The main purpose of CWPPs is for localities to improve their wildfire mitigation capacity and to work with government agencies to coordinate efforts to identify high fire risk areas and prioritize areas for mitigation, suppression, and emergency preparedness management. States have a key role to play in the formulation of CWPPs, as communities may look for long-term guidance from outside experts.

The idea of community protection from wildfire is not new. Many communities have engaged in a variety of fire planning efforts, such as the long-standing Fire Safe program in California. Still, federal attention to community protection took a leap forward in 2000 with the enactment of the National Fire Plan (NFP). Building upon this interest in fire management, Congress directed and the Western Governor’s Association responded by collaborating with a group of stakeholders to produce A Collaborative Approach for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment: A 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy in 2001, and its companion document, the Implementation Plan, in 2002. In 2002, President Bush’s Healthy Forest Initiative (HFI)) included fire management in a broad effort to improve the health of our nation’s forests and rangelands. The Healthy Forest Restoration Act (P.L. 108-148, 2003) captured many of the goals of HFI and made them statutory. Expedited fuels reduction and community safety are two of the most important objectives codified in HFRA, and Community Wildlfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) are singled out as the best way for communities to engage in the process (Section 103(d)(2)).

Defining a “community at risk” (CAR) has been problematic. Following Congressional direction, each State, in consultation with Tribes, compiled a list of communities in the vicinity of federal land that are at high risk from wildfire. Lists were published in the Federal Register (66 Fed. Reg. 753, January 4, 2001); language there acknowledges that states’ lists were compiled using different criteria reflecting the varying needs and values of the individual states, and are considered incomplete and in need of ongoing updates. As a result, most agree that there is a great deal of variability in the lists as states have defined community and risk differently. Many have noted that there is ultimately little value in developing a national list as the geographic and socio-political variables differ so vastly in each state.

The CWPP process also varies considerably between states. Many individual Plans cover more than one community, and in some cases one community may have sub-divisions that have their own Plans. There is not a one-to-one ratio of Plans to communities protected. States differ in the resource availability for CWPP development, and individual communities have tremendous variability in development and implementation capacity, including level of citizen skill and awareness, finances available, and access to technology such as Geographic Information System (GIS).

Despite these challenges in Plan development and fire mitigation capacity, the West is clearly moving toward increased community protection through the CWPP process. Identifying local concerns and prioritizing protection activities not only serves to attract agency attention to fire management needs, but the very process of Plan development tends to increase community capacity and a heightened awareness of local fire risk and responsibility. All states are currently compiling or have already finalized their CAR list, and many have begun regular updates to keep the list current. Every state has begun the process of creating CWPPs although rates of completion vary considerably. Across the West, 329 CWPPs have been completed and approved as being in accordance with HFRA guidelines. Countless additional Planning documents serve to protect communities and counties. As communities and states begin to share success stories and lessons learned, progress will strengthen; already, templates and field guidance have been developed by a number of non-profit, government, and research entities to facilitate the process.

Many who have been involved in CWPP development are quick to note that in many cases the process is itself a success. Collaboration among local landowners, local governments, land management agencies and the State for fire planning also creates lasting relationships that extend beyond the immediate task. These networks are invaluable for information sharing and community capacity building. Throughout the West, there is enthusiasm for improving collaborative efforts, protecting communities, and developing strong fire management planning processes.

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Community Wildfire Protection Planning in the West