About the Portal & Data Library
The CWPP Portal and Data Library is a centralized resource for wildfire risk mitigation practitioners and researchers. It features an interactive map of more than 1,000 Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) from 11 western states, alongside toolkits, guidance documents, and participation data. Practitioners can explore diverse planning approaches, identify comparable communities, and discover new strategies for CWPP development. Researchers can use the data to examine the social and institutional dimensions of wildfire governance. Future updates will expand the portal’s coverage to include CWPPs from across the United States.
What is a CWPP?
Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) are collaborative, community-driven frameworks that outline local priorities for reducing wildfire risk. These plans serve as both a strategic guide and a practical tool to help communities identify hazards, prioritize actions, and strengthen partnerships between residents, fire agencies, land management entities, and other stakeholders.
Core Requirements
- Plans must be developed collaboratively with local government, fire departments, and state forestry agencies.
- They must identify and prioritize areas for hazardous fuel reduction.
- They must recommend measures to reduce structural ignitability.
Why CWPPs Matter
CWPPs do more than document wildfire risk. They help communities organize, prioritize, and take action to reduce that risk while building long-term resilience through collaboration, planning, and access to resources.
Risk Reduction: CWPPs guide strategic, locally tailored wildfire mitigation planning that reflects each community’s unique landscapes and conditions.
Access to Funding: A completed CWPP opens doors to critical resources by enabling eligibility and prioritization for funding programs such as the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) and FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. (Source: Jakes et al., “Critical Elements in the Development and Implementation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs)”)
Community Capacity & Collaboration: The planning process itself builds trust and relationships among residents, fire professionals, and land managers. These connections strengthen community capacity and lay the foundation for adaptive wildfire resilience. (Source: Abrams, J. et al. (2005). “Re-Envisioning Community-Wildfire Relations in the U.S. West.” RMRS-P-46CD.)
Resilience & Readiness: CWPPs enhance public awareness and readiness through shared learning, local engagement, and coordinated planning, ensuring communities are better prepared before, during, and after wildfire. (Source: Brenkert-Smith, H. (2010). “Building bridges to fight fire: The role of informal social interactions in six Colorado wildland–urban interface communities.” International Journal of Wildland Fire.)
Strategic Alignment Across Partners: By aligning priorities across local, tribal, state, federal, and private partners, CWPPs improve coordination, reduce duplication, and maximize the impact of available resources. (Source: Fischer, A. P., & Charnley, S. (2012). “Risk and cooperation: Managing hazardous fuel in mixed ownership landscapes.” Environmental Management.)
Inclusive & Locally Responsive Planning: Because the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) gives communities flexibility, CWPPs can reflect local values, address equity considerations, and adapt to diverse risk profiles.
Featured Resources
Data Tools
Map WUI areas, assess fire exposure, and inform mitigation planning in your CWPP.
Check out the resources library for more; filter by Data Tools
Explore the CWPP Map
The interactive map displays the boundaries and completion dates of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) across 11 western U.S. states. Users can click on individual plans to access metadata and view plan documents.
Important Note for Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) Applicants: The CWPPs and state guidance available through this map may not represent the most current versions for your area. Please confirm with your local jurisdiction to ensure you are referencing the latest plan.
The CWPP Portal and Data Library was developed by partners at The Ohio State University, Portland State University, and the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network. We are currently exploring options to support ongoing updates and maintenance.
If you have a CWPP that is missing or needs an update on the CWPP map, you can contact us.
How to Use the Map
- Zoom and Pan to explore CWPP coverage across regions.
- Click on a CWPP boundary to view plan details and access downloadable documents.
- Use the search and filter tools to find plans by state, county, date, or keyword.
Data Library
Datasets were designed to facilitate analysis of wildfire risk governance at multiple scales. Data will be particularly useful for researchers interested in network governance, spatial perspectives on risk and risk mitigation, and policy diffusion and implementation, among other related themes. To submit a request for access to these datasets, click here.
CWPP Highlights
CWPP Resources
To navigate the CWPP Resource Library, scroll through the gallery to browse available documents by title or type. Use the search bar to quickly find specific resources, or apply filters (e.g., by resource type) to narrow your results. The list can also be downloaded by clicking the three dots and clicking “Download CSV.”
Note: Resources in this library may not reflect the most current guidance for your state. Please contact your state wildfire or forestry coordinator to confirm you are using the most up-to-date materials.