The 2003 Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) directs communities at risk of wildfire to develop a risk assessment and mitigation plan. Community Wildfire Protection Plans are a collaborative effort between wildfire suppression agencies, federal, state and local governments, community groups, and individuals.

NEW DOF CWPP Communitites Map (pdf)

What is a CWPP?

• A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a collaborative and strategic plan that recommends wildfire risk reduction measures to protect people, property, and natural and cultural resources.
• The CWPP is developed with the participation of residents, community leaders, land managers, fire personnel, and other stakeholders.
• CWPPs can also be used as a tactical tool for wildfire prevention and management, as it provides a roadmap for how a community can reduce its wildfire risk and improve its resiliency in the face of wildfire events.

Why is a CWPP important?

• A crucial aspect of the CWPP is to recommend strategies for reducing the risk of hazardous fuels, enhancing public outreach and education, lowering the ignitability for structures, and improving fire response capabilities. The CWPP serves as a guiding document that will assist local government organizations and landowners in making informed decisions with respect to wildfire preparation and management. 
• As wildfires become more severe, communities need a plan to prepare for, reduce the risk of, and adapt to these events. Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) help with these goals by providing recommendations to address, but not eliminate, wildfire risk

CWPP Core Objectives

• Fire Adapted Communities
  • People and communities are prepared to receive, respond to and recover from wildfire.
• Safe, Effective Wildfire Response
  • All jurisdictions coordinate to implement safe, effective, risk-based management decisions.
• Resilient Landscapes
  • Landscapes are resilient to fire, insect, and disease disturbances, regardless of jurisdictional boundaries.
• Post-Fire Recovery
  • Preparing communities for inevitable fire effects, through pre-fire planning for post-fire response.

Additional Resources

• Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (PDF)
• Community Guide to Preparing and Implementing and Community Wildfire Protection Plan – A supplemental resource guide to Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan: A Handbook for Wildland-Urban Interface Communities, March 2004 (PDF)
• NEW Alaska Community Wildfire Protection Plan (PDF)