Firewise Communities

Washington County: Stillwater Community Firewise Assessment

Communities growing into landscapes of forest and wetlands are at increasing risk of catastrophic loss of life and property to wildfire. Such losses are readily preventable if the community adopts and implements a "firewise" community plan including safer approaches to subdivision planning, outdoor fire use, and building specifications. For example, a firewise building code restricts the use of fire-prone materials and designs and advocates for fire-resistant roofing, enclosing eaves and under sides of decks, and establishing "defensible space."

Basing a Firewise Community Plan on Natural Resource Information
Before considering what firewise measures are warranted, a community needs to assess their wildfire risk by examining local wildfire history, local vegetation's potential as a fuel (e.g. cattail wetlands, tall grasses, and pine forests are all fire-prone vegetation), and the proximity of current and future development to these fire-prone landscapes.

For more information:

• Community Plan
• Defensible Space
• Defensible Space Rating
• Project Briefing: Stillwater High School
• http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/firewise/