The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association have teamed up to launch the Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program Framework, which outlines how communities can create sustainable wildfire mitigation systems.

The most destructive wildfires in the United States share a commonality, the report notes: The fires spread from wildlands into communities. Unlike other natural disasters, wildfires intensify when they encounter a built environment like a neighborhood or city. A single burning building can spread quickly to those surrounding it, creating a chain reaction that puts an entire community at risk. Breaking this cycle, the organizations note, requires collective action to bring transformation.

"Communities are learning how to live with wildfire because in many areas it's no longer a distant threat — it's a reality," Steve Hawks, senior director for wildfire at IBHS and retired assistant deputy director at CAL FIRE, said in a release. "This toolkit provides a consistent, research-based program neighbors can implement in their communities to reduce the risk of home ignition and strengthen their neighborhoods, which also supports insurability."

The community wildfire toolkit includes guidance for planning, designing and launching local wildfire risk reduction programs; science-based home mitigation standards like structure hardening and creating defensible space; assessment and training resources; implementation tools and templates like program checklists and funding considerations; and outreach and coordination strategies to help communities engage homeowners, local partners and supply chain providers.

The program also guides community organizers in identifying key partners (local agencies, emergency management services, builders, contractors, etc.) early on in their planning, which they say is imperative for program development. It also explains how communities can establish eligibility for their wildfire mitigation program and how to identify the homes that should take priority due to increased risk.

"Wildfire risk is not going away. We must adapt by reducing the likelihood that homes ignite from embers, flames and extreme heat," said Karen Collins, vice president of property & environmental at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. "Community‑wide action — led by local officials and supported by property owners — is essential to reducing losses and easing pressure on insurance markets as climate risks grow. This toolkit equips local leaders with science‑based actions and resources to help homeowners protect their homes and neighborhoods. When mitigation is implemented at scale, property owners benefit from improved survivability and insurability, and communities experience reduced reliance on disaster aid and stronger fiscal stability that protects local tax bases and real estate markets."

Interested communities can find more information about the wildfire mitigation framework and the free toolkit here.

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