Firewise USA

NFPA Firewise LogoFirewise USA is a national recognition program through the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that emphasizes homeowner responsibility and community participation in wildfire home safety. It encourages local solutions for reducing wildfire risk by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, firefighters, and others in an effort to protect people and property from the risk of wildfire. To save lives and property from wildfire, the NFPA Firewise USA program teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action now to prevent losses.

Ashland has historically been a leader for the state of Oregon with at one point having 36 actively recognized Firewise USA neighborhoods within the city limits. Ashland's first 7 communities were created in 2011 and the program has grown every year since.

Working with fire professionals, neighborhoods in the City of Ashland can earn Firewise USA status by meeting the following requirements:

  • Complete a community assessment and create an action plan that identifies NFPA Firewise agreed-upon achievable solutions to be implemented by the community. This can be done by the City's Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator.
  • Sponsor a local Firewise Task Force Committee which maintains the Firewise USA
  • program and track its progress.
  • Observe a Firewise Clean Up Day each year that is dedicated to a local project.
  • Invest a minimum of one volunteer hour, or its equivalent value ($33.49 for 2025) per dwelling unit annually in local Firewise projects.
  • Submit an annual online report that documents continuing compliance with the program.
  • Visit the NFPA website to learn more information about how your neighborhood can become Firewise.