Firewise basics
Firewise basics
Firewise Communities bring neighbors together around a shared effort to protect their neighborhood. Each Community is organized by neighbors for neighbors, and participation in Firewise is optional.
Wildfire readiness and risk reduction are the tangible benefits of being a Recognized Firewise Community, but there are annual requirements to maintain that status. This includes reporting activities, organizing educational events, and sharing wildfire preparedness information and opportunities.
All Communities have at least one volunteer acting as Firewise Lead, and often several neighbors helping organize the effort.
Here's what's involved once a Firewise Community is up and running.
Participating households:
Learn how to reduce their wildfire risk
Receive invites to wildfire events & news about opportunities
Meet local officials and wildfire professionals
Connect with neighbors
Collaborate on community projects
Track & report their household Firewise activities to their Organizers
Participation & reporting are not required; all parcels within the Firewise Community boundaries are considered Firewise.
Build their neighborhood network
Share educational resources with neighbors
Alert neighbors to wildfire grants & events
Collect neighborhood reports & submit to Firewise USA
Connect with other Firewise Organizers
Leads and organizers never inspect properties, enforce regulations, or require your participation.
Residents track the following activities & report to their Organizers:
The amount of vegetation removed from their property
Time and money spent on risk reduction and wildfire readiness (yours, and those you hire)
Organizers track & report the following to Firewise USA :
Their residents' Firewise activities
Firewise Community events and group projects
Volunteer hours spent organizing & participating in events
Updates to their Firewise Community details, such as its boundaries or Organizers.
Every wildfire-preparedness effort counts, for example:
Vegetation clearing (yard work, pruning, raking)
Home hardening (gutter cleaning, replacing roofs or vents, removing flammables)
Evacuation planning & preparation (discussions, researching, organizing, purchases)
Attending local and regional workshops and meetings, researching wildfire topics
Volunteering time and expenses
Maintains Firewise Recognition
Without an annual report, a Community loses its Firewise status.
Showcases progress
Neighborhood tallies document the real work residents are doing to reduce risk.
Helps with grants, support, and insurance
Community action increases the potential for funding and agency support for residents.
Firewise USA reporting minimums are small, only $30 per year multiplied by the number of parcels in your Firewise Community.
Firewise event support
KCSD materials and assistance with block parties
Ready to use templates & documents
Kensington Firewise insurance letters, sample announcements, reporting forms, etc
Leadership support
Phone support, networking meetings, and coming in 2026.... educational link lists, resource lists, and educational walks
Workshops & resources for residents
Coming in 2026.... KCSD grants, Firesafe Kensington/KCSD events & workshops
Connect with neighbors to discuss what can be done to improve your neighborhood's wildfire resilience and evacuation
Share mitigation experiences, contractor and product recommendations
Get involved in your Firewise Community events and group conversations
Track your actions, and submit them to your Firewise Organizers
Write to us at the email address below if you have questions.