Wildfire defense in underserved communities

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was awarded a $17,798,144 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Community Wildfire Defense Grants program (CFDA 10.720). The grant, awarded on November 18, 2023, will support the development and updating of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) for at-risk communities in Washington, as well as the implementation of wildfire mitigation projects outlined in recently updated CWPPs. Key activities include conducting wildfire risk assessments, reducing hazardous fuels, establishing defensible spaces, and improving wildfire response capabilities to help create fire-adapted communities and restore landscapes. The grant will leverage DNR's expertise in natural resource management to deliver these services in partnership with other state agencies, tribes, universities, and non-profit organizations across Washington.