Get recognized as a Firewise USA® Neighborhood

Overview: Firewise USA® Assistance

The Firewise USA® program, run by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and reviewed by CALFIRE, helps communities enhance fire safety in wildfire-prone areas. With 2000+ recognized communities nationwide, the decade long program has proven multiple instances of structure loss during a wildfire event.

VRFSC, in collaboration with the Ventura County Fire Department, aids communities in becoming Firewise Sites. Our Regional Coordinators host monthly virtual workshops to inform the public on the latest Firewise information. See our events page for more information.

Any neighborhood may request flyers from VRFSC to distribute to your community here. (ATTN: We are currently running low on flyers, so all flyers may not be available. Thank you for your understanding.)

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ALREADY RECOGNIZED... NOW WHAT?

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Understanding Firewise in 5 minutes

Funding for this project was provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CAL FIRE) Wildfire Prevention Grants Program. This project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Monthly Firewise USA® Workshops

Why Join Our Firewise Monthly Workshop?

Explore the Program: Learn the steps and benefits of the Firewise program for your community.
Connect with Others: Hear how different communities found success by chatting with each other.
Q&A Sessions: Engage in a Q&A session with our Regional Coordinators for valuable insights.

Firewise Workshops are back in 2026! They happen every 3rd Friday of the Month. Workshops are open to the public (online only). Register at the link below.

You can also book a 30-minute virtual chat with our Regional Coordinator.

Join a Workshop on Zoom

Chat with our Coordinator

Watch Past Workshops on YouTube

Steps to Recognition

To earn recognition as a Firewise site, interested communities must complete six steps.

Click on each step below to learn more.

Ready to Apply?

Chat with our Regional Firewise Coordinator!

Our Regional Firewise Coordinator, Natasha, is available for Neighborhood Leaders who are ready to apply for national recognition.

During the chat, Natasha will guide neighborhood leaders through a RAAP (Risk Assessment Action Plan) Workshop that streamlines the process into actionable steps to recognition. Be sure to invite your team and have them watch the 5 minute introduction video ahead of time.

Have questions? First, go through our FAQ's section and watch the 5 minute introduction video to see if your question may be answered there. If not, schedule a chat with a coordinator or reach out to us on our Contact Us page.

Chat with our Coordinator

Frequently Asked Questions

CREATE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ACCOUNT

Image of Button for Firewise USA website login portal

FAQs

Who can I contact for more information?

We encourage you to do your own research on the NFPA website. Additionally, read the instructions in each of the required documents to learn more about the process.

For portal-related questions or application extensions, email [email protected].
To connect with your local fire department, research your city’s fire department.
- For most of Ventura County contact [email protected]
- For the Fillmore Fire Department visit fillmoreca.gov
- For the City of Ventura Fire contact [email protected].
For general inquiries, contact us at [email protected].

You can also book a 15-minute virtual consultation with our Regional Coordinator. Use our booking link above to schedule an information session with your Firewise team or resident leader.

How can I tell if I am already in a Firewise Community?

Will this help with my insurance?

Possibly. Under California Safer from Wildfires, becoming a Firewise USA® community qualifies you for discounts under insurance companies approved by the California Department of Insurance (CDI). However, there is no mandatory minimum so discount amounts vary (0.1%–15%). Check with your provider to confirm your eligibility.

Additionally, insurers are only updated twice a year by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Therefore, if you recently became recognized your insurer may not have that information. If needed, you may be able to provide them with your community’s Firewise certificate as proof.

Safer from Wildfires also lists several home hardening actions that can qualify you for insurance. Read the complete list here.

Separately, in 2024, Ventura County Fire Department was added to the Fire Risk Reduction Community (FRRC) List, which is unrelated to Firewise but may also qualify properties for insurance discounts. This applies to areas under Ventura County Fire Department’s jurisdiction, excluding Oxnard, Ventura, and Fillmore, for 2 years.

Sources:

For more information on insurance, check our Insurance and Recovery Page.

How long will it take to earn recognition?

Do I need 100% community participation?

Currently, it is not a requirement of the program to have 100% community participation for Firewise USA recognition. It's a voluntary program where communities meet criteria for national recognition, not certification. It's based on efforts to create safer communities, using an honors system, so not everyone has to participate. In the spirit of the program, communities should work towards 100% participation within their 3-year action plans.

How can I garner participation and get community buy-in?

What actions qualify for our annual investment?

How do we track our annual investment and vegetation removal?

Every community tracks its investment differently. Here are simple options to choose from or customize:

Leverage HOA/POA methods
- If you have an HOA or POA, they may already track vegetation removal and costs, which counts toward your investment.
Online Presence
- Use a Facebook page or website, such as Ondulando’s Firewise Website.
Paper or Digital Forms
- Hand out a paper form distributed to new residents and at community meetings.
- Create your own digital survey distributed via e-newsletters or community email chain

See what activities count towards your Time and Investment. Tracking vegetation removal is optional, but highly encouraged.

What are common reasons for application rejections?

Ensure your community team understands the criteria by thoroughly reading the instructions in each required document. View the sample documents at the bottom of this webpage.

Risk Assessment

View the sample Risk Assessment available below under the "Required Documents" section.
Inconsistent dwelling units: maintain consistency in dwelling unit numbers across all submitted documents.
Insufficient maps: include a clear boundary with visible streets in your submitted map. A simple Google Maps screen grab should suffice.
Not selecting that you are next to adjacent lands with accumulated fuels: look at the general topography of your location, if you are within several hundred yards of wildlands then mark the checkbox. A quick Google search should let you know who manages the land near you.

Action Plan

View the sample Action Plan available below under the "Required Documents" section.
Utilize page 9 of your risk assessment to inform and guide your Action Plan.
Year 1 of your Action Plan begins the year after your application year.
Steer clear of vague goals. Write goals that are specific, measurable, and include percentages for improved compliance year by year. Refrain from using language such as "same as previous year."
Too little information in each section. Each year should progressively move your community towards better compliance. Learn more on topics such as evacuation planning, home hardening, and defensible space. See our Resources tab or contact us for more information.

By adhering to these guidelines, you increase the likelihood of a successful application submission.

How do we maintain our Firewise status?

Why does the Action Plan say "Has a phased approach to Defensible Space been avoided?"

Action Plans should not say the community will reach compliance for existing & mandatory fire codes in stages (such as VCFD Standard 515 or Ventura City's FHRP Guidelines). These defensible space rules are expected to be met at 100%, not gradually over time.

For example, VCFD Standard 515 states that, "Combustible mulch and wood chips are prohibited within 5 feet of any structure" (2025, page 8). Because this is a mandatory requirement, your community should avoid saying something like "We plan for 50% of the community to have no mulch within 0-5ft by 2028."

Instead, communities can state, “Continue to ensure homes have no combustible mulch or wood chips within 5 feet of any structure per VCFD Standard 515, and are replacing it with hardscape ideally permeable hardscape to replenish our groundwater” which reinforces the rule without showing non-compliance with local fire code.

For any items not in the local fire code, communities can use a phased approach. For example, items such as installing 1/8 mesh, which is a recommendation not a Standard 515 requirement as of January 2026.

Required Documents

Community Wildfire Risk Assessment

There are several steps to take to become recognized as a Firewise USA® site. The community wildfire risk assessment is one of the most important steps in the process. It’s a tool to help residents understand their wildfire risk and engage in risk reduction efforts.

Read & Download

View Sample 1

View Sample 2

Firewise USA® 3-Year Action Plan

Please note that defensible space is required at all times for all buildings or structures within California’s State Responsibility Area under Public Resource Code 4291 and for Local Governments with designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones under Government Code 51182.

Download Blank PDF

View Sample 1

View Sample 2

Firewise USA® is a registered trademark of the National Fire Protection Association, Inc. (NFPA). More information from NFPA is available at https://www.nfpa.org/firewise

Map of Recognized Neighborhoods

This map may not always show the most recent sites, please be patient with us as we make updates. The goal of this map is to reflect the county's progress and is not made for insurance purposes.