Community Wildfire Protection Plan
What is the Community Wildfire Protection Plan?
A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a collaboratively developed, community-driven strategy to reduce wildfire risk and enhance community resilience. It's a plan that identifies areas at risk, prioritizes fuel reduction treatments, and recommends actions to make structures less susceptible to ignition. CWPPs are crucial for coordinating efforts, securing funding, and fostering collaboration between local governments, fire agencies, and residents.
Why is the CWPP important?
- Collaboration: CWPPs are developed through a collaborative process involving local governments, fire departments, fire safe councils, and community members. by the Valley County Fire Working Group
- Prioritization: They identify and prioritize areas for fuel reduction treatments, focusing on areas where wildfires pose the greatest threat.
- Fuel Reduction: CWPPs recommend actions to reduce hazardous fuels, such as thinning trees and removing brush, to decrease the intensity and spread of wildfires.
- Structural Ignitability: They also address how to make homes and buildings more resistant to ignition, including recommendations for defensible space and fire-resistant construction.
- Response and Mitigation: CWPPs outline strategies for wildfire response, mitigation, and preparedness.
- Funding: CWPPs help county and agencies access funding for wildfire mitigation projects.
Benefits of Community Wildfire Protection Plan
- Reduced Wildfire Risk: By addressing fuel hazards and structural ignitability, CWPPs help reduce the overall risk of wildfires and protect lives, property, and natural resources.
- Enhanced Community Resilience: A CWPP strengthens a community's ability to withstand and recover from wildfires.
- Improved Collaboration: The collaborative process fosters communication and cooperation among stakeholders, leading to more effective wildfire mitigation efforts.
- Access to Funding: CWPPs can make counties eligible for federal and state funding for wildfire mitigation projects
What is the Valley County Fire Working Group?
Chartered in 2007 by the Board of County Commissioners. The Valley County Fire Working Group is a collaborative, advisory group comprised of representatives from multiple public land management agencies, structural fire districts, wildland fire management agencies and state parks located in Valley County. Responsible for the continued update of the County Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), the group utilizes the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy: “To safely and effectively extinguish fire when needed; use fire where allowable; manage our natural resources; and as a nation, to live with wildland fire.” The Cohesive Strategy addresses the nation's wildfire problems by focusing on three key areas: Restore and Maintain Landscapes; Fire Adapted Communities; and Response to Fire. VCFWG meets quarterly as a collaborative effort.
In essence, a CWPP is a proactive and collaborative approach to managing wildfire risk, ensuring that communities are better prepared, more resilient, and safer from the threat of wildfires.