Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) are collaborative, community-driven frameworks that outline local priorities for wildfire risk mitigation. Since the passage of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) in 2003, thousands of plans have been developed across the United States.
The considerable flexibility given to communities by HFRA as they develop their CWPPs has enabled communities to create plans which are tailored to their individual needs. There is considerable variation in the scope, scale, and goals of the CWPPs in place across the country.
The CWPP Portal and Data Library offers a range of resources for wildfire risk mitigation practitioners and researchers. For example, the interactive map of CWPPs may help practitioners compare different approaches for CWPP development, identify similar communities, and/or expand their conception of what can be possible through a CWPP. The CWPP Data Library also offers unique opportunities for researchers interested in social and institutional dimensions of wildfire risk governance.
Data encompass 20,000+ records of individuals’ participation in 1,000+ CWPPs in 11 states of the fire-prone US West, attributes of individuals and plans, and the plan documents themselves. All data are available for download.
CWPP Benefits
Studies indicate that benefits of CWPPs extend beyond the planning document, action plan, and wildfire risk reduction itself to include building community capacity, developing social networks, building learning communities and developing new capacities to successful wildfire planning (Jakes et al., 2007; Williams et al., 2009). These benefits are important and community flexibility in CWPP development is a key part of maintaining these benefits (Jakes et al., 2011).
Interactive StoryMap
The interactive map details the boundaries and date of completion for CWPPs in 11 western states. Where possible, state-level CWPP guidance is also included. Individual CWPPs can be accessed through the map as well. IMPORTANT NOTE FOR COMMUNITY WILDFIRE DEFENSE GRANT APPLICANTS: The CWPP and State Guidance uploaded to this map MAY NOT be the most current CWPP for your area. Please work with your local jurisdiction to ensure you are working from the most current resources available. If you have a CWPP that is not shown or which needs to be updated, please use this form to submit the plan.
Data Library
Datasets were designed to facilitate analysis of wildfire risk governance at multiple scales. Data will be particularly useful for researchers interested in network governance, spatial perspectives on risk and risk mitigation, and policy diffusion and implementation, among other related themes. CLICK HERE
The CWPP Portal and Data Library was created and is maintained by collaborators at The Ohio State University, Portland State University, and the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network.
Selected CWPP References
General guidance:
- Community Guide to Preparing and Implementing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan
- Community Navigators CWPP Webinar (English)
- Community Navigators CWPP Webinar (Spanish)
- Community Wildfire Protection Plan Evaluation Guide
- Engaging Socially Vulnerable Populations in Community Wildfire Protection Plans
- Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan: A Handbook for Wildland-Urban Interface Communities
- WAFAC’s Community Wildfire Protection Plans Toolkit
Fire Service guidance:
Template-based guidance:
Selected CWPP Research
Abrams, Jesse; Nielsen-Pincus, Max; Paveglio, Travis; Moseley, Cassandra. 2016. Community wildfire protection planning in the American West: homogeneity within diversity? Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 59(3): 557-572. Available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/52505
Colavito, Melanie. 2019. Assessment of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) in Arizona and Communities-at-Risk throughout the West. Flagstaff, AZ: Northern Arizona University, Ecological Restoration Institute. 34p. Available at: https://cdm17192.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17192coll1/id/1018/rec/1
Jakes, Pamela J.; Sturtevant, Victoria. 2013. Trial by fire: Community Wildfire Protection Plans put to the test. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 22(8): 1134-1143. Available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/45806
Jakes, Pamela J.; Esposito, Christine; Burns, Sam; Cheng, Antony S.; Nelson, Kristen C.; Sturtevant, Victoria E.; Williams, Daniel R. 2012. Best management practices for creating a community wildfire protection plan. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-89. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 27 p. Available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/39838
Jakes, Pamela J.; Nelson, Kristen C.; Enzler, Sherry A.; Burns, Sam; Cheng, Antony S.; Sturtevant, Victoria; Williams, Daniel R.; Bujak, Alexander; Brummel, Rachel F.; Grayzeck-Souter, Stephanie; Staychock, Emily. 2011. Community wildfire protection planning: is the Healthy Forests Restoration Act’s vagueness genius. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 20: 350-363. Available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/38474
Jakes, Pamela; Burns, Sam; Cheng, Antony; Saeli, Emily; Brummel, Kristen Nelson Rachel; Grayzeck, Stephanie; Sturtevant, Victoria; Williams, Daniel. 2007. Critical elements in the development and implementation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs). In: Butler, Bret W.; Cook, Wayne, comps. The fire environment–innovations, management, and policy; conference proceedings. 26-30 March 2007; Destin, FL. Proceedings RMRS-P-46CD. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. CD-ROM. p. 613-624 Available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/28604
Palso, Emily; Bauer, Matt; Evers, Cody; Hamilton, Matt; Nielson-Pincus, Max. 2022. Engagement in local and collaborative wildfire risk mitigation planning across the western US–Evaluating participation and diversity in Community Wildfire Protection Plans. PloS one. 17(2): e0263757. Available at https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263757
Williams, Daniel R.; Jakes, Pamela J.; Burns, Sam; Cheng, Antony S.; Nelson, Kristen C.; Sturtevant, Victoria; Brummel, Rachel F.; Staychock, Emily; Souter, Stephanie G. 2012.Community Wildfire Protection Planning: The Importance of Framing, Scale, and Building Sustainable Capacity. Journal of Forestry. 110(8): 415-420. Available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/42692
Williams, Daniel R.; Jakes, Pamela J.; Burns, Sam; Cheng, Antony, Nelson, Kristen. 2009.Community wildfire protection plans: enhancing collaboration and building social capacity. Paper 144. Boise, ID: Joint Fire Science Program. 23 p. Available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/53687
