The NFPA’s Firewise USA® program continues to be one of the most effective community-based wildfire prevention efforts in the nation — and it’s playing a growing role in protecting Riverside County neighborhoods.

For the past three years, MySafe:Riverside has been helping local communities achieve and maintain Firewise USA recognition, empowering residents to take collective action that reduces wildfire risk, improves resilience, and helps support critical insurance coverage in fire-prone areas.

Why Annual Renewal Matters

Every Firewise USA-recognized community must complete an annual renewal through the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to keep its certification active. Renewal isn’t just paperwork — it’s a vital checkpoint to ensure that communities remain engaged, organized, and committed to reducing wildfire risk.

According to the NFPA, the annual renewal process:

• Confirms that the community continues to meet the program’s national standards,
  
• Documents the ongoing mitigation work being completed by residents,
  
• Demonstrates how local efforts are reducing risk and improving safety, and
  
• Keeps each community eligible for certain insurance incentives and grant funding.

“With more than 1,100 Firewise sites in California, it’s clear the program is useful and needed,” said Chris Nevil, MySafe:Riverside’s Wildfire Supervisor. “Annual renewal keeps those benefits alive — and it reminds residents that resilience is a year-round effort.”

How Renewal Works

Renewing a Firewise site each year is simple, but it requires attention to detail. Through the NFPA Firewise USA Annual Renewal Portal, communities submit the following:

1. Updated contact and boundary information for the site,
   
2. A record of wildfire mitigation activities completed over the past year (such as defensible space maintenance, home hardening projects, or neighborhood clean-up events),
   
3. Documentation of annual investment — at least one volunteer hour per household or equivalent financial contribution, and
   
4. Verification by the local fire department liaison or supporting agency (often CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire). NOTE: The CAL FIRE Captains supporting this process believe in it 110%, and their mission is to assist any group of homeowners who need assistance, along with the team at MySafe:Riverside.

Completing this process before the NFPA deadline ensures that the community remains active and publicly listed as a certified Firewise USA site.

Why It’s Especially Important in Riverside County

Riverside County has more than 805,000 homes at some level of wildfire exposure, making it one of the most at-risk counties in the United States.

Unlike heavily forested regions to the north, Riverside’s fire danger comes from fast-moving grass, chaparral, and brush fires that threaten communities built along the wildland-urban interface. Firewise communities serve as the first line of defense — improving awareness, strengthening mitigation, and creating neighborhoods that are better prepared to survive wildfire events.

Annual renewal ensures that:

• Each Firewise community retains its good standing with the NFPA,
  
• Residents stay engaged and informed about local fire risks,
  
• Data from Riverside communities contribute to statewide risk-reduction metrics, and
  
• Local insurers and agencies recognize that these communities are actively maintaining fire safety standards.

Continuing the Mission

MySafe:Riverside is committed to expanding the number of Firewise communities across the county — from Lake Elsinore and Temecula to the Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass. Each newly recognized site adds to a growing network of neighbors helping neighbors prepare for wildfire.

“Firewise isn’t a one-time project,” Nevil added. “It’s an ongoing commitment to keeping our homes, families, and communities safe.”

Get Involved

If your neighborhood is already a Firewise USA site, don’t let your certification lapse — begin your annual renewal today.

If you’re not yet part of the program, MySafe:Riverside can help guide your community through the application process from start to finish.

Learn more at NFPA’s Firewise USA Annual Renewal Information page, or visit mysaferiverside.org to connect with the MySafe:Riverside team.