A community wildfire protection plan (CWPP) is a blueprint and an action strategy for prioritizing the protection of life, property and critical infrastructure in your community. A CWPP allows a community to evaluate its current situation with regards to wildfire risk and plan ways to reduce risk for protection of human welfare and other important economic, social or ecological values. CWPPs help protect and prepare communities in the event of a wildfire.

The purpose of community fire planning is to:

• Empower communities to organize, plan, and take action on issues impacting community safety
• Enhance levels of fire resistance and protection to the community
• Identify the risks of wildland/urban interface fires in the area
• Identify strategies to reduce the risks to homes and businesses in the community during a wildfire.

Successful wildfire risk mitigation begins with individual landowners, but landowners associations and other community organizations and entities also have a role to play. Individuals must work to reduce home ignitability and create defensible space. Community-wide collaborative efforts are required to improve ingress and egress, provide signage, develop water resources, and create evacuation plans. This CWPP identifies efforts required of everyone with an interest in the protection of our communities.

For more information about the South Fork Fire Rescue District Community Wildfire Protection Plan, please contact:

Ben Webster 
Fire Resource Officer
719.873.1030
FRO@southforkfirerescue.com

Homeowners have the ultimate responsibility to proactively prepare their property for wildfire. By creating and maintaining the home ignition zone, residents can improve the likelihood of their home surviving a wildfire and reduce the negative impacts wildfires can have on their property.

If your home is located in or near the natural vegetation of Colorado’s grasslands, shrublands, foothills or mountains, you live in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) and are inherently at risk from a wildfire. This includes any areas where structures and other human developments meet or intermingle with wildland vegetative fuels. Wildfires are a natural part of Colorado’s varied ecosystems. Planning ahead and taking actions to reduce the risk of wildfires can increase the likelihood your home survives when wildfires occur. Firefighters always do their best to protect residents, but ultimately, it is your responsibility to protect your property and investments from wildfire.

The Home Ignition Zone Guide focuses on actions that are effective in reducing wildfire hazards on your property. It is important to recognize that these efforts should always begin with the home or structure itself and progress outwards.

Photo: Wildfire Partners