The City of Flagstaff was recently awarded a Community Wildfire Defense Grant to update the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for communities in the Greater Flagstaff Area of Coconino and Yavapai counties. The City has contracted SWCA Environmental Consultants to work in collaboration with municipal, state, and federal land management agencies to update the Greater Flagstaff CWPP update.

What is a CWPP?

A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a collaborative document developed for a community, or group of communities, in the wildland urban interface (WUI). It is a comprehensive and strategic plan that aims to reduce the risk of wildfire damage to people, property, and natural and cultural resources. The CWPP is developed with the participation of local residents, community leaders, land managers, fire personnel, and other stakeholders.

The CWPP process involves a thorough assessment of the community's wildfire risk and vulnerabilities, including the analysis of fire history, fuel (vegetation) conditions, weather patterns, and the community's capacity to respond to wildfire events. Based on the assessment, the CWPP outlines a set of actions that can be taken to reduce the risk and improve the community's preparedness and resiliency. These actions are categorized based on the three goals of the National Cohesive Strategy.

Public Engagement Events

Public engagement is a vital part of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) process. These events are designed to give residents, landowners, and other local stakeholders the opportunity to learn about wildfire risks in the Greater Flagstaff Region, share their concerns, and help shape the strategies that will reduce those risks in their communities. 

Public engagement activities for the Greater Flagstaff Region CWPP will include a public survey, two public meetings, and a public review period for the draft plan. These events are intended to: 

• Inform residents about wildfire risks and mitigation strategies 
• Gather input on community values, concerns, and preparedness levels 
• Build local support for wildfire resilience projects 
• Ensure the CWPP reflects community needs and priorities 
• Support eligibility for future wildfire mitigation funding

 

Visit the Greater Flagstaff Regional Community Wildfire Protection Plan to learn about upcoming public meetings, participate in a community survey, and submit comments on the draft CWPP when it becomes available for review.