The good news is, unlike floods, hurricanes or earthquakes, there are simple and often inexpensive ways to make homes safer from wildfire. With a good understanding of wildfire hazards and mitigation strategies, community residents can effectively lower the wildfire risk and losses to their homes, neighborhoods and natural resources. Learn more about wildfire causes and risks.
Assessing Structure Ignition Potential from Wildfire is an NFPA® training that covers wildfire behavior, structure exposure, and the concepts of the Home Ignition Zone and Structure Ignition Potential. The class is taught by experienced wildland fire specialists and is based on scientific research on how homes and other structures ignite during wildfires and NFPA 1144, Standard for Reducing Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire. The training is designed to:
- Increase understanding and competency in wildland/urban interface fire mitigation
- Assist wildfire mitigation and prevention professionals in assessing risks to individual homes in wildland, forested, or grassland areas
- Encourage and make recommendations for corrective mitigation measures to residents, property managers, and homeowner associations
The training will enable attendees to confidently assess structure ignition potential and to recommend appropriate mitigation measures for homes and other structures in residential areas exposed to wildfire hazards. Individuals who learn the basic information about how structures ignite from wildfire will be better prepared to evaluate wildfire risk to homes and communities.
In a learning environment that encourages discussion and interaction, sessions are taught by experienced wildland fire specialists who understand how and why homes and communities are destroyed during wildfire events and the simple things that property managers, residents, and others can do to minimize property loss. This is the only national standardized training that offers factual solutions and action strategies regarding modern wildfire mitigation.
Contact us to bring this training to your organization
NFPA works with you to accommodate your training needs. To schedule time with a wildland/urban interface NFPA instructor, call +1 877 336-3280 or request more information. You can also download more information. (PDF)
No one has done more to define the wildland-urban interface problem and empower homeowners to reduce their risk of wildfire than Jack Cohen. His post-fire field examinations and laboratory-based research on fire dynamics led to the concept of the home ignition zone, a phrase he coined. Cohen also co-developed the U.S. National Fire Danger Rating System and contributed to the U.S. fire behavior prediction systems.
Six reasons you should choose NFPA for your home ignition zone training
- Expert Instruction. Learn from wildland fire specialists who helped develop the course and/or have direct experience in the field.
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Convenience. Time is valuable, so you choose the location that works best for your team and our staff will take care of all the details for you.
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Applied Knowledge. Learn to assess wildfire risks, eliminate hazards, and develop mitigation recommendations for structures in wildland, forested, and grassland areas.
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Skills Beyond the Classroom. Step-by-step exercises, virtual risk assessments, and collaborative problem solving takes instruction beyond just knowing what’s in the class materials. Your team will develop skills to help them effectively conduct an assessment and enhance life safety.
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Training Materials. Packed with easy-to-follow diagrams, illustrations, and assessment tools, our materials are filled with resources your team will consult and reference long after the course is over.
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Gain Accreditation. Earn up to 1.6 CEUs with completion of the course; CFEs from the Society of American Foresters can also be requested.
Testimonials
"The information presented and your instruction was extremely valuable... As a forester, having spent the last 10 years on forest management before recently transitioning into the role I have now, I focus heavily on forest vegetation, fuel, and forest health while shying away from the structure assessments when meeting with landowners. After learning how significant addressing structure ignition potential is coupled with now having increased my confidence with conveying these concepts to homeowners, I am excited to place more of an emphasis on the structure when meeting with folks."
Rachel Mickey
Landowner Assistance Forester
Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources