The scale and severity of wildfires in California over the last decade have marked an era of devastation for millions. On the same token, fire is a natural part of California’s landscape and a vital force in many western ecosystems. As we learn to restore the beneficial role of fire, we must also adapt our lifestyles to be more prepared and aware of its risks.
The Fire Safe Communities Program seeks to prevent community ignition through time-tested preparedness and mitigation activities. Communities stand a better chance at surviving catastrophic wildfires when all resiliency-bolstering activities are in place.
These resiliency-bolstering activities include:
1. Creating Defensible Space
Defensible space creates a buffer zone around a home to halt or stall the spread of fire and reduce the likelihood that a home will ignite. Based on cutting-edge research and California codes, CFSC encourages homeowners to focus on the first 100 concentric feet away from their home in three zones: Zone 0 is 0 – 5 feet from the home and is the most important area to clear of flammable materials and objects; Zone 1 is 6 – 30 feet and should be kept lean, green, and clean; Zone 2 is 31 – 100 feet in which homeowners should remove as much dry, brittle vegetation as possible as well as flammable materials and objects. Building more vibrant, climate-resilient communities starts in every resident’s own backyard. Through our network of Fire Safe Councils and other wildfire mitigation partners, we support at-risk and vulnerable communities in defensible space projects.
2. Hardening Homes
Homeowners can retrofit their homes so that they are more wildfire resilient – protected from both embers and direct flame spread. This includes installation of ember resistant vents and roofing, replacing single pane windows with double, enclosing eaves, replacing decks with non-flammable materials, and adding ember resistant mesh around deck enclosures, among other changes. Ember entry into the home is one of the most common causes of the ignition, and home hardening activities can keep dangerous embers out. And since fire can spread between neighboring homes, home hardening is most effective when a whole community participates. CFSC is launching innovative pilot programs to educate communities and provide resources to fund retrofits in low-income, high-risk areas.
3. Mobilizing Community Mitigation and Reducing Fuels
Through our network of Fire Safe Councils and other wildfire mitigation partners, we support neighborhood brush and tree clean-up programs. This could look like an organized chipper day where large mastication machines are brought in for community members to bring their dry brush and yard waste. In addition, we support seasonal community fire breaks or green spaces that help stop fire in its tracks and provide staging areas for firefighters to take their stand.
4. Boosting Forest Health and Landscape Resilience
Through our network of Fire Safe Councils and other wildfire mitigation partners, we support forest and landscape management projects meant to restore ecosystems to health, and in the long run, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire entering communities. These projects can have positive impacts on water and air quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
5. Planning for Evacuation
When disaster strikes, lives depend on getting people to safety quickly. CFSC supports communities in developing evacuation plans, making sure exit routes are clear and safe, educating community members on how to evacuate safely and quickly, and putting up signs in communities to highlight their routes. Educated and prepared communities can evacuate quickly, saving lives and allowing firefighters to focus on putting the fires out.
6. Outreach and Education
We spearhead and promote community wildfire mitigation outreach campaigns to inform and empower communities across the state. These include topics such home hardening and safety, defensible space, evacuation, personal preparedness, fire safety, and more. Often these materials are the first point of entry to engaging with a local fire safe council or their neighbors to discuss how they can be active participants in preparing for fire. We produce mailers, videos, digital assets, and handouts.
7. Community Capacity Building
Local capacity provides the foundation on which communities make progress toward their resilience goals. CFSC supports a network of over 300 local fire safe councils conducting critical mitigation and preparedness efforts with tools, resources, funding, and technical assistance to support the capacity to make positive changes in their communities. As part of this work, we support key community planning initiatives such as Community Wildfire Protection Plans critical to long-term wildfire resilience.
ACTIVE GRANTS
CAL FIRE Grants
2025 Wildfire County Coordinators Grant Program
2022 CAL FIRE Defensible Space Assistance Grant Program
2022 CAL FIRE County Coordinator Statewide Grant Program
2022 CAL FIRE County Coordinator Southern Grant Program
2022 CAL FIRE Evacuation Route Planning and Development Grant Program
2021 CAL FIRE Evacuation Route Planning and Devlopment Grant Program
