The mission focuses on mitigating risk from wildland fires within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in the West. It emphasizes community protection through hazard fuel reduction, education, planning, and monitoring. This mission aligns with national strategies for fire management and landscape resilience, aiming for cross-boundary collaboration and large-scale project implementation.
The grant program targets the reduction of wildland fire risks in the Western United States, specifically in the Wildland Urban Interface areas. It operates through a competitive funding process managed by state/island forestry organizations. Key areas of focus include hazard fuel reduction, information and education outreach, assessment and planning, and comprehensive monitoring involving community and landowner initiatives. The grant supports the overarching goals of the National Fire Plan and the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, incorporating strategies for landscape resilience, fire-adapted communities, and effective wildfire response. Projects aiming for cross-ownership collaboration and landscape-scale implementation are particularly encouraged.