25 Nov 2009

NFPA Firewise Communities program encourages local solutions for wildfire safety by involving others

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is celebrating the milestone achievement of surpassing 500 communities participating in its national Firewise Communities Program.

The program is an interagency effort designed to encourage wildfire safety by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, firefighters, and others at the local level in the effort to protect people and property from the risk of wildfire.

"We credit a passionate team of fire and safety professionals and motivated residents from across the country for helping Firewise attain the 500 community milestone," said Firewise Communities Program Manager Michele Steinberg. "The Firewise program's growth translates to greater protection for lives, homes and natural resources that are being protected in advance of the threat of wildfire. In today's environment, preparation is more important than ever."

According to Steinberg, wildfires are burning hotter and faster than ever before and that each year since 2004, wildfires burned a record 8.2 million acres of land in the U.S. Steinberg and her legion of state and tribal Firewise liaisons are determined to keep increasing the number of Firewise communities and protecting the homes, commercial buildings and vital natural resources threatened every day by wildfire.

Each year since 2004, wildfires burned a record 8.2 million acres of land in the U.S.

"If we don't act meaningfully now," says Steinberg, "more may be lost than ever before believed possible. The effects of climate change, more densely populated communities in fire risk areas and the difficulty of fighting fires in rural areas are creating the perfect firestorm for wildfires."

States, cities and the public at large can avoid a "here we go again" future of burned homes, commercial buildings, natural resources and lost human life by learning more about the Firewise Communities Program at www.firewise.org.