The Wildfire Resilient Homes Initiative (WRHI) is a new pilot program designed to help Flagstaff residents reduce wildfire risk at the home and neighborhood scale. The program combines personalized home assessments, free home hardening kits, community events, and small grants to make cost-effective improvements accessible to homeowners while strengthening overall community resilience.
Staff will provide an informational presentation to introduce the program’s structure and goals, highlight community engagement strategies, and outline expected outcomes. This update will provide City Council and the Flagstaff community with a clear understanding of how WRHI can help protect homes, leverage private investment, and serve as a replicable model for wildfire preparedness that can be scaled over time.
 

Staff will provide information on the following program elements:

• Program Approach: WRHI is structured as a pilot to test scalable strategies to protect homes and strengthen neighborhood resilience.
• Home Assessments: Staff conduct on-site home evaluations to identify vulnerabilities and provide tailored recommendations for defensible space and home hardening.
• Home Hardening Kits: Participating households receive vent screens, yard tools, and a Wildfire Preparedness Guide to support mitigation efforts.
• Community Events: Neighborhood-level volunteer workdays engage residents in wildfire risk reduction activities, supervised by City staff.
• Contractor Services: Cost share grants help fund contractor services when needed.
• Managing Expectations: As a pilot, early results will be modest. The focus is on learning, building systems, and creating a replicable model.
• Why This Matters: Enhances public safety, mobilizes private investment, fosters stronger neighborhoods, and supports the City’s priorities.