Clear the first 5 feet (Zone 0)
Remove dead plants, leaves, bark mulch, and stored combustibles next to the home. Zone 0 is the area closest to the structure.
How to start
Firewise USA® community
Forest Lakes Firewise
Neighbors preparing our forest town together
What is Firewise?
Firewise USA® is a national program run by the NFPA where neighbors reduce wildfire risk together. It focuses on simple yearly actions around homes and shared spaces.
We live among ponderosa pine on the Mogollon Rim, where homes meet wildland vegetation and monsoon winds can carry embers.
Recognition means our community keeps up yearly activity and reports it to stay in good standing. We renew with NFPA every year.
- Neighbors working together on shared risk
- Clearer access and awareness for first responders
- Possible insurance consideration (never guaranteed)
- Possible access to grants or local programs
Firewise USA® helps neighbors work together so homes and landscapes are better prepared for wildfire. Through simple, yearly actions—defensible space, home hardening, and community planning—we reduce risk and look out for one another. Learn more and find official guides, worksheets, and recognition resources from NFPA.
Firewise USA® resourcesOur story
Forest Lakes grew up among ponderosa and black oak on the Mogollon Rim—cabins, gravel drives, and neighbors who wave when the monsoon clouds stack up. After a near-miss fire season reminded everyone how quickly wind can turn a ridge into a runway, a handful of residents sat down at the fire station and decided preparedness had to be a community habit, not a once-a-year checklist. We became Forest Lakes Firewise by walking our roads together: mapping home ignition zones, clearing ladder fuels along shared fence lines, marking hydrants and turnouts, and practicing who calls whom when smoke shows on the horizon. Elders share what the land taught them; newer families bring fresh energy to chipper days and evacuation drills. Our story is simple—we look after this forest town the way we look after each other, so the lakes, the pines, and the people who love them can stay.
Three steps for every household
Harden your home
Use screened vents, clear gutters and the roof, and choose ember-resistant details where you can. Home hardening lowers ignition risk from wind-blown embers.
How to hardenShare time and money spent
Reporting household work is how we keep our Firewise recognition each year.
Contact leaders to reportDefensible space distances and rules differ by state and local code. Check your local fire district or state forestry agency for specifics.
Local information only. In an emergency, follow official alerts and call 911.
Evacuation
Community map and ignition zones
Immediate, intermediate, and extended home ignition zones help neighbors prioritize the work closest to each house.
Official alert sign-ups
Local information only. Follow official alerts and call 911 in an emergency.
Be ready checklist
- Go bag packed and easy to grab
- Pets and carriers ready
- Medications for several days
- Important documents (paper or phone photos)
- Vehicle at least half full of fuel
- Two ways out of the neighborhood
Resources
National
- NFPA Firewise USA®Official guides, worksheets, and recognition resources
State agency
- Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire ManagementState wildfire preparedness and forestry programs
Contact the leaders
Write about insurance certificates, volunteering, hazards, or evacuation questions. A leader will reply within a few days.
For emergencies call 911. This form is not monitored in real time.