Wildfire Adapted Partnership

Inspires, Educates, and Enables Individuals and Communities to
Protect Lives and Property from Wildfire

Who We Are

Wildfire Adapted Partnership (WAP) is a grassroots organization dedicated to helping homeowners understand their wildfire risk and what they can do to reduce that risk. We began in 2003 as FireWise of Southwest Colorado after the Missionary Ridge Fire north of Durango. While the name has changed, we are the same organization, and our mission, programs, and partnerships remain the same.

We are a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization with part-time coordinators assisting Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan Counties. With 5 staff members and 5 board members, we are also proud to rely on 152 Volunteer Neighborhood Ambassadors who are the backbone of our organization. We work closely with a variety of partners including the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), United States Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Offices of Emergency Management (OEM), and local Fire Protection Districts.

What We Do (Inspire, Educate, Enable)

Wildfire Adapted Partnership works with our neighbors and agency partners to create wildfire adapted communities. We assist local residents in creating defensible space, planning wildfire evacuations, and preparing for wildfire on the neighborhood level through education and grant opportunities offered through Wildfire Adapted programs.

Check out Our Upcoming Events Here —>

Inspire

  • Our Neighborhood Ambassadors are volunteer community members who are empowered to act as spark plugs in their communities by attending educational events, organizing community activities, mitigation, and educating their own neighborhoods. Learn more HERE

  • WAP relies on our coordinators, partners, and volunteers. If you are interested in supporting us by being more involved, consider becoming a volunteer and/or donating. Contact your local coordinator today for more information.

  • Wildfire Adapted Partnership is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization and we rely on grants and donations to offer free wildfire education and mitigation programs. Please consider donating today to continue this important work in southwest Colorado. You can donate HERE

Educate

  • WAP education programs inform the public on what it means to live in a fire adapted ecosystem and the steps they can take to lower their risk of wildfire. WAP offers free home site assessments, participates in local collaboratives, and hosts monthly Fire Council and Ambassador meetings.

    Read about the Home Ignition Zone, check out useful links, and check out current wildfire information HERE

  • We’re always up to cool things. Check out our calendar HERE

Enable

  • Funding from donors and grants helps residents to offset costs of completing wildfire mitigation on private properties. This makes mitigation more accessible for communities and landowners. Our mitigation programs include Defensible Space Cost Share, Chipper Rebate, and Community Projects.

    Wildfire Adapted Partnership is a grassroots organization dedicated to helping homeowners understand their wildfire risk and what they can do to reduce that risk. We offer a variety of incentive programs to support residents with slash removal and their planning and mitigation efforts. Some programs are open to all residents in the five-county area of Southwest Colorado and others are only for our Neighborhood Ambassadors and their communities.

    View Our Programs →

  • WAP helps create and update Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), Community Wildfire Risk Assessments, and plan fuels reduction projects in Ambassador communities. WAP also participates in regional and local collaboratives to plan cross-boundary treatments and improve forest and watershed health.

  • WAP offers free site assessments HERE

  • Wildfire Adapted Partnership coordinators are here to help you get started in your wildfire preparedness activities. Contact yours HERE

Updates

WAP stays active throughout the year, focusing on fire mitigation efforts and hosting important meetings. Below, you'll find a roundup of our latest activities, designed to keep you informed and up-to-date on all things related to fire prevention and safety. Want to stay up to date? We send out an E-News once a month with updates, tips, and articles about all things fire. Read the most recent E-News and sign-up for monthly updates with the button to the right!

  • March 2025 Fire Council Meeting

    March Fire Council Meeting featuring a screening of short-film Forest Fire and a presentation by Shawna Legarza

    Presentation

  • January 2025 Fire Council

    January Fire Council 2025 with presenter Karola Hanks

    Presentation

  • Los Ranchitos CWPP Update

    Los Ranchitos updates a 12 year old Community Wildfire Protection Plan

    CWPP

Fire Belongs on the Landscape

Fire plays a vital role in maintaining healthy landscapes. It is an essential natural process that helps promote biodiversity, rejuvenate ecosystems, and manage vegetation. Prescribed burnings are common on public lands, but nearly 60% of land in Colorado is privately owned. Below are some videos to help us understand fire’s role in southwest Colorado.

“Good Fire”

“Where Public and Private Lands Meet”

Adapting to Wildfire in Southwest Colorado

The Story of Wildfire Adapted Partnership and the Communities We Support

Accomplishments

Wildfire Adapted Partnership had an incredible year in 2024.  We increased organizational capacity, expanded our mitigation and outreach programs, and added several new Ambassadors to our growing programs.  We could not have done it without you.  Below is a report of our accomplishments. 2025 brings new goals and challenges, and we look forward to working with you to find community solutions for wildfire mitigation.

Donate Today

Wildfire Adapted Partnership is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization and we rely on grants and donations to offer free wildfire education and mitigation programs. Please donate today to continue this important work in southwest Colorado.