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Collection of resources helps residents reduce risk

The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Firewise® Communities Program has published an updated Firewise Toolkit aimed at homeowners and other wildfire stakeholders interested in learning how to reduce wildfire risk. The Toolkit is available online and free of charge.

Every year, wildfires burn across the U.S. and more and more people are living where wildfires are an increasing risk. Nearly 45 million homes abut or intermix with grasslands, forests and wildlands, and more than 72,000 U.S. communities are located in a wildfire-prone area.

Fortunately, wildfire doesn’t have to destroy everything in its path. Whether it’s homeowners who utilize the checklist to create defensible space around their homes, community members interested in working with their neighbors to establish a recognized Firewise Communities/USA® site, or residents looking for steps to take during a wildfire watch or warning, the Toolkit is a collection of resources designed to raise awareness about wildfire safety and provide preparedness steps before a fire threatens neighborhoods.

The Toolkit can be downloaded and shared at meetings, presentations or for individual use, and includes the following information:

• A Guide to Firewise Principles
• Firewise Tips Checklist for Homeowners
• Firewise Communities/USA® Recognition Program Checklist
• Firewise Infographic
• Tips Checklist for High Fire and Red Flag Days

Download the entire Toolkit or its individual components at www.Firewise.org/toolkit. For more information about the Firewise program, please visit www.firewise.org.

About Firewise The Firewise Communities Program encourages local solutions for safety by involving homeowners in taking individual responsibility for preparing their homes from the risk of wildfire. Firewise is one element of the Fire Adapted Communities initiative – a national effort that engages homeowners, firefighters, civic leaders and land managers to reduce wildfire risk in communities throughout the United States. The Firewise Communities Program is sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association and USDA Forest Service.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information visit www.nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.