Firewise Communities/USA is an opportunity for America's fire-prone communities to learn how to prepare for a fire before it occurs. The goal is to encourage and acknowledge small communities', developments' and residential associations' actions to minimize home loss to wildfire.
A home can withstand a wildland fire without intervention of the fire service when the house is adequately prepared. The Firewise Communities/USA recognition program enables communities in any part of the United States to achieve a high level of protection against wildland/urban interface fire as well as sustainable ecosystem balance.
The Firewise Communities/USA template is easily adapted to different locales and works in the following way:
1. Wildland fire staff from federal, state or local agencies provide a community with information about coexisting with wildfire.
2. Mitigation information tailored to that specific area is provided.
3. Each community assesses its risk and creates its own network of cooperating homeowners, agencies and organizations.
4. Each community identifies and implements solutions to identified potential local problems.
In Kentucky, the Firewise Program is administered through Division of Forestry and Division of Conservation.
For more information about the program: National Firewise
For information about a Firewise workshop in your area, contact Firewise Technical Specialist Cindy Bennett.
