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Wildfire and the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

Explore these resources to help you prepare for a safe wildland fire response and to create and sustain a fire-adapted community.

Fire departments across the country are increasingly being called upon to respond to WUI fires, including brush, grass, forest fires or other outdoor fires. You may believe that you don't have a WUI problem, and that WUI fires only occur in western states, but more than 60,000 communities in the United States are at risk for WUI fires. Source: National Association of State Foresters PDF

Fire Management Assistance Grants
California Franklin Fire (FM-5548-CA)
Fire Management Assistance Declaration declared on Dec. 10, 2024.
New York Jennings Creek Fire (FM-5547-NY)
Fire Management Assistance Declaration declared on Nov. 15, 2024.
Nevada Callahan Fire (FM-5546-NV)
Fire Management Assistance Declaration declared on Nov. 11, 2024.
California Mountain Fire (FM-5545-CA)
Fire Management Assistance Declaration declared on Nov. 6, 2024.

Fire Management Assistance Grants

Learn about the WUI

Featured resources

RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI): A Look at Issues and Resolutions

A report of recommendations for elected officials, policymakers and all levels of government, tribal and response agencies.

Get the report

WUI research and technology updates

FIRE-ADAPTED COMMUNITIES

Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan

The form-fillable templates in this guide help you to create an action plan for your community and document assets at risk, forest and landscape health issues, and key stakeholders. The guide is available in English and Spanish.

Creating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan guide

Get the guide

Help your community to become fire adapted

OUTREACH MATERIALS

Be a wildfire safety recreation enthusiast

Use these social media cards to share important messages about practicing wildfire safety while taking part in outdoor activities this summer.

TRAINING

Wildland Urban Interface Firefighting for the Structural Company Officer F0610  

This 2-day off-campus course covers:

  • Introduction to WUI firefighting
  • Interface environment
  • Wildland fire behavior
  • Command and control issues
  • Tactics

Check the course schedule for an offering near you.

Learn more and apply

Explore more training opportunities

Wildfire and WUI blog articles

How to create a community wildfire protection plan

Learn about the history behind the development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs), the key components, how a CWPP can benefit a community at risk from wildfire, and how to create a plan for your community.

Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report released by the attorney general of Hawaii

Read the detailed report that examines the tragic fire that devastated much of Lahaina, Hawaii on Aug. 8 and 9, 2023.

EPA and Forest Service release new AirNow Fire and Smoke Map

Discover the air quality in your community with the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map and provide your community with information they can use to protect themselves from wildfire smoke.

How stakeholders view wildfire mitigation efforts for homes

Wildfires represent serious safety issues around the world, posing major challenges to community safety. Learn about stakeholder perceptions in NFPA's report: Stakeholder Perceptions of Wildfire Mitigations for Homes Multi-Audience Survey Research

A new National Institute for Standards and Technology report outlines best practices for post-fire analysis

Learn more about lessons learned from previous case studies, including the Camp Fire, as well as what strategies need to be followed for future post-fire research and analysis to help us learn how to better protect ourselves, our communities, infrastructure and local ecosystems.

New tools launch to raise awareness on wildland urban interface fire

Learn more about the new tools USFA is launching to apply consistent data in the implementation of community risk reduction, code adoption and enforcement, mitigation, and planning efforts.

View more wildfire & WUI articles