Updated 05/2012
Wildfire Prevention: The Wildland/Urban Interface
Contents
Introduction
The intent of this page is to provide links to useful information resources on wildfire prevention. The federal and state governments require that each county prepare an all hazard mitigation plan. Wildfire is one of the items included. Community wildfire prevention plans are not required, but most communities with identified wildfire hazards have orare preparing plans.The Community Wildfire Prevention Plan Handbook (CWPPHB) provides a guide for the preparation of wildfire prevention community plans. The Washington Department of Natural Resources has identified 199 communities in 34 counties at greatest risk to wildland fire (as of 2010), based on criteria in the wildfire hazard severity analysis developed by the National Fire Protection Association.
About Wildfire Prevention
- Healthy Forests and Rangelands - Information about the National Fire Plan (NFP), Healthy Forests Initiative (HFI), and related initiatives - A cooperative effort between the United States Department of the Interior (DOI), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and their land management agencies.
- Pacific Northwest National Fire Plan
- National Interagency Fire Center- The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) is the nation's support center for wildland firefighting. The website covers topics related to aviation, communications, fire information, fire shelters, NICC, policies, prevention/education, programs, and safety training.
Model Codes
- Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan: A Handbook for Wildland-Urban Interface Communities (
), sponsored by the Communities Committee of the Seventh American Forest Congress, Society of American Foresters, National Association of Counties, National Association of State Foresters, 03/2004 - The Handbook is intended to provide communities with a concise, step-by-step guide to use in developing a CWPP. Recommendations contained conform to both the spirit and the letter of the 2003 Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA).
- Protecting Your Home from Wildland Fire, National Interagency Fire Center
- NFPA 1144: Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire, 2008 Edition, National Fire Protection Association - Catalog description
- Protecting Life and Property in Rural and Suburban Communities, by Jim Smalley, NFPA Journal®, November/December 2007 - Significant changes in 2008 Editions of NFPA 1141 and NFPA 1144 can help reduce losses
- International Wildland/Urban Interface Code, International Code Council, 2009 ed. - ICC Catalog description
Local Government Plans and Regulatory Provisions
See also Fire Season Weed Abatement
Additional References
- Community Wildfire Protection Planning: Resources for Developing CWPPs, U.S. Forest Service Northeastern Area
- Fire Information and Prevention, Department of Natural Resources - See Wildfire information pages
- Fire Safe Spokane - A nonprofit corporation that promotes and develops wildfire mitigation and education
- Fire Prevention in the Rural/Urban Interface: Washington's Backyard Forest Stewardship/Wildfire Safety Program, by Janean H. Creighton, et al., Journal of Extension, 04/2002
- Firewise Communities/USA, National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Program
- Forest Fire/Wildfire Protection (
), by Ross W. Gorte Congressional Research Service, updated 01/18/2006
- Landfire.gov - A five-year, multi-partner wildland fire, ecosystem, and wildland fuel mapping project sponsored by the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC)
- National Interagency Fire Center
- Planning for Wildfires, by Stuart Meck and Jim Schwab, APA Planning Advisory Service Report No 529/530, February 2005 (Available through MRSC Library Loan)
- U.S. Forest Service Region 6, Pacific Northwest Region
- Wildland Fire Management Section Forum, NFPA