Neighborhood Organizing for Fire Resilience

The first line of preparedness and response to the threat or reality of wildfires begins in the neighborhood. Although the County and law enforcement have systems in place to communicate, there is no substitute for local networks that could be called upon when necessary. Neighborhood networking and connections are critical for sharing information and to create self-sustaining networks of community support in specific areas. Once neighborhoods are identified, coordination of volunteers/leaders should occur to facilitate various neighborhood fire resilience projects, such as identifying project needs, sharing knowledge about available resources (chipping days, emergency preparedness kits, training opportunities), vulnerable citizens that may need assistance in the event of a fire, etc. One such example raised by a community leader was the need for a “Defensible Space/Home Hardening Ambassador” to neighborhoods. Some key needs include increasing neighborhood capacity to organize volunteers around fire prevention efforts and support volunteer-run neighborhood organizations with paid staff within the Fire Safe Council or other CBOs to help identify, fund, and implement on the ground projects. The RWMP effort is actively and successfully organizing several key neighborhoods into receiving "Firewise" recognition, but additional neighborhood organizing should be continued beyond just these neighborhoods and this particular grant, which will serve as models for other areas.

Status: Implementation (Partially funded through the RWMP; but additional resources are needed beyond the RWMP grant period.)

Cost: Low

Funding Sources: NFWF

Permitting: None

Additional Notes: Currently, the efforts of community outreach around fire challenges are entirely run by volunteer organizations, such as the Mountain Ember Team, Wildland Residents Association, Eucalyptus Hill Improvement Association, and the Mission Canyon Association. There are also existing neighborhood groups or organizations in the San Marcos Foothills, Gaviota coast, and Tepusquet Canyon areas who have expressed interest in obtaining some more formal assistance protecting their neighborhoods. In some places, Homeowners Associations play this role and could be engaged more actively in preparedness and prevention activities. This was also a theme that repeatedly surfaced during the Wildfire and Smoke roundtable. Other areas haven’t formed any groups around fire issues, and may need formal assistance.