Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) is a consulting team that provides communities with land use planning solutions to better manage their wildland-urban interface (WUI). Established in 2015 by Headwaters Economics and Wildfire Planning International, CPAW is funded by the U.S. Forest Service and private foundations. The CPAW team includes planners, foresters, economists, researchers, and wildfire hazard modelers. All services and recommendations come at no cost to the community. Specific services may include risk assessments, development of community planning policies and regulations to address wildfire, guidance on wildfire mitigation, and other recommendations to address local wildfire risk to the built environment.
Any community in the U.S. can apply, and eligible jurisdictions include towns, cities, or counties with authority over local land use and zoning decisions. (Unincorporated communities require county application). Only applications demonstrating support from both the community’s planning and fire departments will be considered. Communities should be willing to commit staff time and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding. The application cycle is typically open each fall.