The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), has recently been awarded a cooperative agreement by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to develop a Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) initiative aimed at raising the level of wildfire risk awareness among the public, and encourage shared responsibility and pro-active planning for living safely in high-risk areas.
The project includes the development of a comprehensive website to be launched in spring 2012. The website will draw on a number of existing wildland fire safety resources and successful programs to help emphasize the importance of being a fire adapted community, and how to become one, and will provide a collection of resources in one place at www.fireadapted.org.
“There are a host of programs, including the Firewise Communities Program, that have been successful, and we want to let the public know about them so they can begin to take action both individually and as a community,” says Molly Mowery, NFPA’s program manager for Fire Adapted Communities and International Outreach. “The new Fire Adapted Communities website will help people understand all of these existing concepts and pull them together in one easily accessible place.”
NFPA is collaborating with a coalition of eight organizations, who will also provide content for the new site. They are:
• Ad Council
• DOI (U.S. Department of the Interior)
• IAFC (International Association of Fire Chiefs)
• IBHS (The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety)
• NASF (National Association of State Foresters)
• NVFC (National Volunteer Fire Council)
• USFA (United States Fire Administration)
• NWCG WUI MC (Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Committee of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group)
“Wildfires will occur where people live – it’s not if, but when. Taking the right steps in advance can minimize damage to homes and property, increase public safety, protect infrastructure and business, save millions of dollars, and ensure future tourism and local recreation opportunities,” says Mowery. “The Fire Adapted Communities initiative will help communities and residents take the next steps.”