

The national Firewise Communities program is a multi-agency
effort designed to reach beyond the fire service by involving homeowners,
community leaders, planners, developers, and others in the effort to protect
people, property, and natural resources from the risk of wildland fire -
before a fire starts. The Firewise Communities approach emphasizes community
responsibility for planning in the design of a safe community as well as
effective emergency response, and individual responsibility for safer home
construction and design, landscaping, and maintenance.
The national Firewise Communities program is intended to serve as a resource
for agencies, tribes, organizations, fire departments, and communities across
the U.S. who are working toward a common goal: reduce loss of lives, property,
and resources to wildland fire by building and maintaining communities in
a way that is compatible with our natural surroundings.
Firewise Communities is part of the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire
Program, which is directed and sponsored by the Wildland/Urban Interface
Working Team (WUIWT) of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, a consortium
of wildland fire organizations and federal agencies responsible for wildland
fire management in the United States. The WUIWT includes: USDA Forest Service,
USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs, USDI Bureau of Land Management, USDI Fish
and Wildlife Service, USDI National Park Service, Federal Emergency Management
Agency, US Fire Administration, International Association of Fire Chiefs,
National Association of State Fire Marshals, National Association of State
Foresters, National Emergency Management Association, National Fire Protection
Association.
+ Backyards & Beyond - Join us for the 3rd biannual Backyards & Beyond Conference in Tampa, Florida November 6-8, 2008. Pre-Conference Workshops November 4-5. Dont miss this opportunity to be a part of a conference devoted toward W/UI issues with one of the most diverse audiences. Over 70 sessions to choose from. Learn more.
+ June-August Wildfire News & Notes - An electronic newsletter providing information and news to wildland firefighters and agencies where the primary focus is controlling or suppressing wildland fires.
+ May/June Newsletter - The newsletter
is a bi-monthly electronic publication offering interesting articles, news,
and information about the Firewise Communities program.
+ Firewise Wiki - We invite you to visit Firewise's new 'wiki'-style glossary. The glossary contains wildland/urban interface wildfire terms, and is interactive. You can update it or add to it yourself.
+ Firewise Blog - Visit
the blog in the Firewise forum to read about one of Florida's newest
Firewise Communities/USA sites.
+ Assessing Wildland Hazards in the Home Ignition Zone Training - Are you looking to bring your group up to speed on the home ignition zone and prepare them to conduct community assessments? Firewise On-site workshops offer you the flexibility to choose the time and place that is most convenient for you and your group at your facility or another facility of your choice. For more information or to start the process, call either Cheryl Blake @ 617-984-7444
or Linda Coyle @ 617-984-7486.
+ Firewise Photo Gallery - Visit the all-new Firewise Photo Gallery for downloadable pictures of Firewise communities, fire-resistant landscaping and construction practices, and Firewise projects. The Gallery is housed in 'Firewise You Can Use'.