WHAT

Regulations, Policies, Plans

Regulations, policies and plans can enable the changes we need to live more safely with wildfire or constrict our decision space. As we work to co-manage fire, actions we take with respect to policy can provide foundational opportunities to help support community fire adaptation.

Whether you are working toward your first Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) or updating an older one, creating opportunities for collaborative fire planning or developing a wildland-urban interface code, actions in this sphere can help your community improve its wildfire resilience.

Considerations

1
Regulations, policies and plans can support fire adaptation at every scale. Determining the right scale is an essential first step. Are you working at the neighborhood scale or would it make more sense work to within the boundaries of your municipality? Consider what you are trying to accomplish and the level at which it makes the most sense (e.g., what is actionable, what is measurable, what is realistic, how much time you have).
2
Often, the process of planning is as impactful as the plan itself. Think about partners and other stakeholders. Who do you need to move this work forward? Ensure your development and planning is equitable
3
Think about what comes after the plan, policy, or regulation. Who will implement the plan? Is there funding available? What monitoring will occur? How will the regulations be enforced?

EXPLORE Regulations, Policies, Plans RESOURCES

  • WHO

  • WHERE

  • FORMAT

FAC Framework Graphic
Explore the rest of the FAC resource categories.
Found 29 Results

Headwaters Economics Analysis Tools

Website / Interactive Map
Headwaters Economics
Headwaters Economics hosts analysis tools to help users better understand socioeconomic data and trends for their communities, counties, states, or regions. Read More

Guide to Equitable, Community-Driven Climate Preparedness Planning

Guide / Pamphlet / Handout
Urban Sustainability Directors' Network
“Delivering more equitable outcomes requires a different approach to planning. Many climatepreparedness and adaptation guides exist and most acknowledge the importance of equity and publicparticipation; however, few address equity issues by addressing specific adaptation solutions, tacticsfor inclusive community engagement, or the root causes of inequities in climate risk. This documentaddresses these gaps. The purpose of... Read More

Firetopia – Interactive Map

Website / Interactive Map
Headwaters Economics / Community Planning Assistance for Wildifre
Click on the circles or use the navigation in this interactive map to learn more about land use planning for wildfire. Includes considerations and resources for community plans, land development, building and fire codes, fuels treatment, and funding and engagement. Read More

Fire Adapted Communities Pathways Tool

Guide / Pamphlet / Handout
Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network and Dr. Travis Paveglio
Improving fire outcomes for communities requires local organizing and action. The FAC Pathways Tool helps communities identify a set of strategies which are tailored to their strengths and needs, and based on practices which have been successful in communities similar to theirs.  The tool combines insights and experiences from community-based wildfire resilience practitioners and researchers... Read More

Enough is Enough: What Builders Can Do to Help Stop Wildfire Disasters

Guide / Pamphlet / Handout
National Fire Protection Association and Green Builder Media
Focused on what builders can do to create fire adapted developments from the beginning, this short guide focuses on home materials, design, landscaping, and maintenance. Read More

Engaging Socially Vulnerable Populations in Community Wildfire Protection Plans

Guide / Pamphlet / Handout
Resource Innovations, University of Oregon; Forest Guild, New Mexico; Watershed Research & Training Center, California
This document provides tools and resources to support low-income and underserved communities as they complete their Community Wildfire Protection Plans. Read More

Engagement in local and collaborative wildfire risk mitigation planning across the western U.S.—Evaluating participation and diversity in Community Wildfire Protection Plans

Research
Citation: Palsa E, Bauer M, Evers C, Hamilton M, Nielsen-Pincus M (2022) Engagement in local and collaborative wildfire risk mitigation planning across the western U.S.—Evaluating participation and diversity in Community Wildfire Protection Plans. PLoS ONE 17(2): e0263757. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263757
This article describes the scale and scope of participation in CWPPs across the western United States, provides a detailed account of participants in over 1,000 CWPPs and examines how levels of participation and stakeholder diversity vary as a function of factors related to planning process, planning context and the broader geographic context in which plans... Read More

Disaster Recovery Programs

Website / Interactive Map
American Planning Association
Resources from the American Planning Association to help communities navigate the recovery process. Includes a consolidation of federal support resources, description of each grant program, and more. Read More

Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (US Fire Administration)

Agenda / Template / Tool
US Fire Administration
This template-style guide can help communities create a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Contains step-by-step guidance. Read More
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Photo Credit: Canva Creative Commons
Community Profile
Fire Adaptation in the Field
Boise, Idaho

Harris North, a development by Boise Hunter Homes outside of Boise, Idaho, incorporated fire adaptation into every element of its planning and implementation process. From initial design to marketing materials for home buyers and maintenance standards, the development weaves wildfire into its operations. Supported by a local wildland-urban interface code and the development’s own Community Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions, Harris North provides an excellent example of what is possible when building in fire-prone environments. The decision to design and plan for a wildfire adapted development from the beginning enabled Harris North to withstand an early wildfire.

Photo Credit: Courtney Smith, Unsplash