Highlands County, the municipalities, and their citizens are embarking on a wildfire mitigation planning process beginning in the summer of 2009. This project, funded through a grant from FEMA, will result in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) that will lay out a plan for reducing community vulnerability to wildfires through various techniques. A Wildfire Mitigation Committee will oversee the development of the CWPP and will work in future years to implement the Plan. On this site, you will find more information about the current project and an overview of why it’s so important that the Highlands communities develop and implement a CWPP.
Highlands County has a high occurrence and risk of wildfire, and its development patterns increase the vulnerability of its citizens and property. The development of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for Highlands will help reduce the potential for injury or loss of life and/or impact to homes, businesses, or public infrastructure from wildfire within the County.