The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) guide walks fire chiefs and other officials through wildfire planning using the four phases of emergency management: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Using case studies from all parts of the country, the guide details successful best practices already in use, giving fire departments new to wildfire planning a leg up and the ability to get started without reinventing the wheel.
Wildfire risk
In 2018, federal wildfire suppression costs topped $3 billion nationwide for the first time, and fire losses for the major California wildfires alone were over $9 billion. Life and property losses from wildfires continue to climb, and communities face greater risks every year.
Wildfires are low-risk but high-impact events for most communities. According to the Wildland Urban Interface Chief's Guide, communities are at risk that never was before due to factors such as urban creep and increased drought. Many jurisdictions have not adequately planned or prepared for such an event.