WHAT

Response

Wildfire response is an important component of community fire adaptation. From Rangeland Fire Protection Associations to the creation of Potential Operational Delineations, communities are exploring what it means to safely and effectively respond to wildland fire. Who should respond to wildland fires? How are local fire departments engaging in wildland fire? Are there places we can use local knowledge, together with the best in fire science, to make decisions about fire control and management? How can communities interact with incident management teams or share their values before a fire to better inform decision-making on the ground? The nature of wildfire response is multifaceted and complex.

The development of a robust local fire workforce, creation and implementation of mutual aid agreements, and strong interagency collaboration all supports safe and effective wildfire response. Check out the tools, resources, and stories about wildfire response below.

Considerations

1
Who responds to wildfires in your area? Are there places in your community which do not have any designated wildfire response? When local resources are expended, what happens?
2
Urban conflagrations (fires which spread unchecked from structure to structure) are occurring with more frequency. Consider these events when evaluating your local response capacity. If you experienced structure-to-structure ignition in your community, how would you respond?
3
What pathways exist for local resources to support wildfire response? Are there ways local equipment operators can support suppression operations? Are these pathways known and accessible or, if not, are there things you can do to support the connection of local resources to wildfire management operations?

EXPLORE Response RESOURCES

  • WHO

  • WHERE

  • FORMAT

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Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities

Website / Interactive Map
US Environmental Protection Agency
This site has tools and resources to support drinking water and wastewater utilities before, during and after a disaster. Resources includes checklists, communication plans, wildfire resilience planning, decontamination resources, and informations about remediation. Read More

Emergency Managers Toolkit: Meeting the Needs of Latino Communities

Guide / Pamphlet / Handout
UnidosUS
“Emergency managers and other emergency responders need to ensure that the Latino Hispanic residents of their cities, counties, and states receive needed information and assistance to prepare for, survive, and recover from public emergencies, from hurricanes to pandemics. This tool kit is designed to facilitate that process…” Read More

Disaster Response for Homeless Individuals and Families

Website / Interactive Map
US Dept of Health and Human Services
People experiencing homelessness typically have limited resources and may have past exposure to traumatic events. They may be at higher risk of adverse physical and psychological reactions to a public health emergency or disaster. Trauma-informed approaches can help disaster responders effectively serve homeless individuals and families. Read More

Community Emergency Response Team

Website / Interactive Map
US Department of Homeland Security
“The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional... Read More

California CWPP Toolkit

Website / Interactive Map
CAL FIRE—Office of the State Fire Marshal Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation Division, Community Wildfire Planning Center, Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, and California Fire Safe Council
The California CWPP Toolkit provides important guidance and resources for communities to develop and implement CWPPs across the state Read More

Best Practice: Mutual Aid Agreements

Guide / Pamphlet / Handout
Lessons Learned Information Sharing/ US Department of Homeland Security
This short guide provides an overview of the various types of mutual aid agreements and their respective purposes. Read More

Become a Wildland Firefighting Vendor (Northern Rockies)

Website / Interactive Map
Northern Rockies Coordination Center
Are you looking to offer goods and services as a vendor? Some local coordination centers (such as the Northern Rockies) provide detailed guidance on how to become a vendor. Read More

​Access and Functional Needs Library

Website / Interactive Map
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
The Access and Functional Needs Library is a comprehensive clearinghouse for access and functional needs-specific best practices, guidance documents, videos, and more. Read More

A Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management: Principles, Themes, and Pathways for Action

Guide / Pamphlet / Handout
Federal Emergency Management Agency
This guide can help the emergency management community create an inclusive framework for engaging with their community. Contains information on understanding community complexity, recognizing community capabilities and needs, building and maintaining partnerships, and more. Read More
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Photo Credit: Amanda Stamper, The Nature Conservancy
Community Profile
Fire Adaptation in the Field
Oregon and Idaho

Communities in Oregon and Idaho have expanded their capacity for wildfire response through the creation of “Rangleland Fire Protection Associations” (RFPAs). RFPAs are trained volunteers who are authorized to respond to wildfires. RFPAs are typically non-profit organizations comprised of rural ranchers, farmers, and other landowners who are outside of, or on the outskirts of, other fire response jurisdictions. RFPAs give local communities the training and skills necessary to respond to wildfires in their place. Oregon and Idaho have state authorities enabling the creation of RFPAs.

Photo Credit: EJ Davis, Oregon State University