Wondervu Leads the Way as a Firewise Community

By: Rebecca Fisher, Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator, JCD, CCCFPD CWPP IC

The Wondervu Plan Unit has officially earned recognition as a Firewise USA® site, marking an important accomplishment for residents who have been working together to reduce wildfire risk in their neighborhood.

Led locally by Traci Nyre, Wondervu community ambassador, residents have demonstrated how neighbors can turn wildfire awareness into action.

Firewise USA is a national recognition program that provides a framework for communities to organize around wildfire preparedness and take meaningful steps to reduce risk. Becoming recognized involves forming a local board or committee, completing a community wildfire risk assessment, developing an action plan, conducting wildfire risk reduction and educational activities, and documenting the time and resources residents invest in mitigation.

Many Coal Creek Canyon Plan Units already have a strong foundation for pursuing Firewise recognition. Neighborhood mitigation projects, volunteer work, defensible space improvements and the Community Ambassador network can all help communities build toward the program’s requirements.

Firewise recognition provides a way to bring these efforts together under a shared framework and identify priorities for future mitigation. Recognition is also an ongoing commitment. Communities maintain their status by continuing to invest time and resources in wildfire risk reduction each year.

Wondervu’s accomplishment is already encouraging interest from other Plan Units in Coal Creek Canyon that are considering pursuing Firewise recognition. With 15 Plan Units throughout the canyon, this is an opportunity to build on the neighborhood level work already happening through the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

“As a mountain community, wildfire preparedness is a shared responsibility, and this recognition reflects the dedication of our residents,” Nyre said.

Congratulations to Traci and the Wondervu community on this accomplishment.

Interested in helping your Plan Unit work toward Firewise USA recognition? Visit www.coalcreekcwpp.org to find your Plan Unit and connect with your Community Ambassador to learn how you can get involved.