February 16, 2021 – The relentless tally of losses makes it increasingly clear that the U.S. is facing a deep wildfire problem. Experts warn that the destruction seen in the past three years—including well over 100 fatalities, 40,000 structures torched, and nearly $40 billion in insured losses—is not an anomaly, but a look into the near future. The alarm bells are sounding, calling for action. While there is widespread destruction from wildfire, there is not widespread regulatory action and a concerted effort to put in place policies to reverse the dangerous trend. Without a new approach, the U.S. is destinated for greater and unmanageable loss of life and property.
On February 23, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will announce, Outthink Wildfire™, a comprehensive strategy that lays out five key policy changes that need to be made at the federal, state, and local levels and if followed, will end the destruction of communities by wildfire over the next 30 years.
The new website, nfpa.org/wildfirepolicy and five policy proposal briefs will be unveiled during the live event.
When: Tuesday, February 23 at 2:00 PM (ET)
Where: NFPA Facebook Page
Participants:
- Jim Pauley, President & CEO, NFPA
- Roy Wright, President & CEO, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)
- Jeffrey D. Johnson, Fire Chief (Ret.), Chief Executive, Western Fire Chiefs Association
- Alison Alter, Austin District 10 City Council Member
Background: Outthink Wildfire™ is rooted in two realities – wildfires are going to happen, and the fire service will not be able to extinguish these fires at a pace to save people and property in their path. While voluntary individual and community actions must continue to play a role in overall efforts to reverse the course of loss, this action alone is not enough to dramatically change outcomes from wildfires in the wildland/urban interface. All levels of government must support these key policy changes if the nation is to reduce the billions in losses that wildfires generate for the U.S. each year.
