Firewise
When it Comes to Your Home - Wildfires Don't Have to be a Disaster
The Department of Forestry and Fire Management participates in National Fire Protection Association's Firewise USA™ program. The program teaches people how to adapt to live with wildfire. As a homeowner, there are simple things you can do to reduce the risk of your property from wildfire.
The NFPA's mission is to promote community-wide responsibility in the use of technology, policy, and practices that minimize the loss of life and property to wildland fire independent of firefighting efforts. Please read Living With Wildfire to learn how you can work toward reducing the wildfire threat in your area. For more information on the Firewise USA™ program, you can check out their website.
Is your community FIrewise USA™ recognized? Check out the list of Arizona's recognized and certified communities!
How to Get Firewise USA™ Community Recognition
It takes all of us to do our parts to reduce the risk of devastating wildfires from threatening our homes and our Arizona communities. A home and a community that has clear defensible space is more likely to survive a wildfire, plus it keeps our firefighters on the ground safe when they are working to save your property.
There are six steps that you must take in order to get your community Firewise USA™ recognized. Please refer to the National Fire Protection Association's website for complete instructions.
2018 Arizona Firewise USA™ Plan Outline
Firewise USA™ Community Assessment Portal
How to Become a Firewise USA™ Assessor or Advisor
Firewise USA™ Assessor
The assessor works with homeowners, homeowner associations, and the local fire department to complete Community and Home Assessments under the direct supervision of a qualified Firewise USA™ Advisor.
The Assessor must complete “Assessing Wildfire Hazards in the Home Ignition Zone”, or equivalent training, such as the Department of Forestry and Fire Management's Firewise USA ™ training.
Firewise USA™ Advisor
In addition to the above-listed duties, the Advisor also assists in Firewise USA™ plan development and recommends steps to take to reduce wildfire risk. The Advisor must have successfully completed the following:
- S-130 Firefighter training
- S-190 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior training
- S-215 Fire Operations in the Urban Interface training
- S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior training
- "Assessing Wildfire Hazards in the Home Ignition Zone" or equivalent training such as Department of Forestry and Fire Management's Firewise USA™ training
- Experience in fire behavior observation in Arizona major fuel types (6 hours in each fuel type).
For more information on the Firewise USA™ program, training, certifications and other documents, please contact the State Firewise USA™ Coordinator.
