Firewise Workshop Information

The series of National Firewise Communities Planning workshops were offered in over 30 locations from 1999 through 2003. In all, over 3,000 people from 1,080 communities in 47 states participated in these landmark workshops. In 2003, the WUI Working Team commissioned an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the first two years of the workshops. To download a copy of the report, click on the link below.

APA workshop evaluation report

The objectives of the Firewise Communities Workshop are to:
Improve safety in the wildland/urban interface by sharing responsibility.
Create and nurture local partnerships.
Integrate Firewise concepts into community and disaster mitigation planning.

Interested in offering a local workshop or becoming a local workshop coordinator and/or facilitator? You may find the following files helpful.

Coordinator's Guide - This guide provides information and direction for those wanting to conduct a local or regional workshop, including minimum guidelines to qualify participants for Continuing Education Units, a sample one-day agenda, sample press releases, and contact information for Firewise Communities program staff.

Display List - The Firewise Communities program has provided a number of Firewise exhibit displays to past workshop coordinators around the country. They measure approximately 8 feet wide by 4 feet tall and are to be used as a tabletop display. These are available on request to be loaned for local workshops or other outreach activities. This list provides the locations and contacts for the Firewise exhibit displays.

Local workshops are powerful in affecting change. Participants will learn how to:
• recognize interface fire hazards
• understand the concepts of Firewise design of homes and landscapes
• educate others about wildland/urban interface fire
• incorporate Firewise planning into existing and developing areas of communities

Looking for national credit for attending a local workshop? If your local workshop coordinator sends the National Firewise office a roster of the participants, each participant will receive a signed certificate of attendance and continuing education credits. Download this form which should be used to provide your workshop participant list to the national Firewise Communities program. These names will be used to create the participant certificates and document credit for Continuing Education Units. Completed lists should be sent to:

Firewise Communities
1 Batterymarch Park
Quincy, MA 02169
617-984-7486

The following materials are available for order from the Firewise Electronic Catalog

The Insiders Guide provides detailed instruction about the fictional community of Falls County and how to lead workshop participants through the various wildland/urban interface fire scenarios faced by community members. Each facilitator for a breakout group will need one.

The Participant Workbooks provide an overview of Firewise concepts and a guide to the fictional community of Falls County for all participants. The accompanying CDs provide a wealth of background information for reference after the workshop is complete.

Want more background on the key topics involved in Firewise planning? Click here for a planning study guide.