WILDFIRE COMMUNITY AWARENESS - PREVENTION, RISKS & MITIGATION
The Waterfall Center with local partners, is focusing on bringing awareness to community and bioregional threats and actions that can be taken by, and in, the community.
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It is no surprise with the changes that we are witnessing and experiencing driven by climate change, that wildfire risks are becoming more of an issue across New York State. Through some of our initial research and scoping work through our Panther Creek Project and identifying contributing factors, such as forestry management practices and Ash tree mortality due to the Emerald Ash Borer, we recognize the need for a more localized and comprehensive program to address these risks, and to create an expert and community driven action plan and approach to management and mitigation.
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The work on this project will be compiled here for the community to learn, share and contribute to as this work progresses.
Land-Based, Community-Driven Action
Community Stakeholders
Opportunities For Involvement
Goals
Local landowners, farmers, forest users/owners, local firehouses, municipal public health agencies, and emergency management agencies
• Forest stewardship
• Community driven Wildfire Risk Assessment
• Community Wildfire Committee
• Mapping & Data Collection
• Building a place-based shared vision rooted in community participation, love and care
• Create community based Wildfire Risk Assessments, utilizing the outline and form from Firewise USA
• Identify funding sources for mitigation & remediation
• Coordinate landowners and community stakeholders with municipal agencies for remediation & mitigation strategies
• Create a comprehensive wildfire plan and strategy to share across municipalities and local firehouses for education and practice.
Listening Sessions, Workshops & Community Info.
July 27, 2025 Listening Session Presentation
Wildfires: Sparking Conversations Around Risks & Mitigation
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This presentation was presented at our July 2025 Listening & learning session as an introduction to wildfire risks & mitigation in New York State, to begin dialogue around what a mitigation program could look like in the Schoharie bioregion.
Resources
Firewise USA Program Toolkit
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This comprehensive toolkit provides key information and participation tips for homeowners and communities to take action to reduce wildfire risks at the local level.
Firewise USA Community Wildfire Risk Assessment Form
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This example of a wildfire risk assessment reflects a community-wide view that identifies areas of successful wildfire risk reduction and areas where improvements could be made. Emphasis should be on the general conditions of homes and related home ignition zones.
Taking Control Of Your Wildfire Risks - An Introduction To Firewise
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This power point presentation (viewed as PDF) from Firewise USA offers an introduction to the firewise program and assessing wildfire risks. This is a great introduction to learn more about the program and actions that can be taken and adopted in the community.
National Wildfire Coordinating Group - Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide
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The NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide provides mitigation practitioners at all experience levels with recommendations on the most effective and efficient ways to accomplish mitigation work in communities at risk to wildfire damage or destruction
Links
How To Become A FireWise USA Site - Additional tools, resources and training materials from Firewise USA
NYSDEC - Daily Fire Danger Map
NYSDEC - MitigateNY - Wildfire Risk Profile
Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program
NYSDEC -2025 Wildland Fire Protection Areas
National Association of State Foresters - NY State Forest Action Plan
USDA - Map: Wildfire Suppression Difficulty Index 97th Percentile 2025
Cornell University - Wildfire Smoke & Air Quality Toolkit
Coalitions & Collaboratives - Community Wildfire Mitigation Best Practices Toolbox & Resources
Wildfire Risks To Communities - Community Tools
National Association of Counties - Building Wildfire Resilience Land Use Toolbox
Fire Adapted Communities Neighborhood Ambassador Approach
Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Integrating Community Wildfire Protection Plans and Natural Hazards Mitigation Plans
Open Source Tools
Wildfire Suppression Difficulty Index 97th Percentile 2025
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Agency: USDA - US Forest Service
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97th percentile of the Wildfire Suppression Difficulty Index for fire season 2025. Wildfire Suppression Difficulty Index (SDI) provides a spatial summary of “watch out” situations as well as areas with reduced risk to fire responders that can be used to facilitate strategic and tactical fire management decisions.​
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Agency: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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Telephone and email contact information for Forest Rangers, and their respective supervisors, by territory.​
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Agency: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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Check daily updates for current fire dangers.​
Firetopia​​
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​Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) program
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Interactive tool for creating wildfire-resilient communities by integrating wildfire risk reduction into land use planning.​