National awards recognize individuals, organizations, and communities making a measurable impact on wildfire risk reduction.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and its national partners are accepting nominations for the 2027 Wildfire Mitigation Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in community wildfire preparedness, mitigation, and risk reduction.
Established in 2014, the Wildfire Mitigation Awards are among the nation’s highest honors for individuals and organizations whose efforts have made a lasting impact on community wildfire safety.
Nominations are due Friday, January 8, 2027, at 11:59 p.m.
Award recipients will be recognized on March 24, 2027, during the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Conference in Austin, Texas.
Recognizing Excellence in Wildfire Mitigation
Effective wildfire mitigation takes many forms, from strengthening community partnerships to implementing projects that reduce wildfire risks before an incident occurs.
The awards recognize efforts such as:
- Developing and implementing Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs).
- Creating local wildfire mitigation coalitions and community partnerships.
- Promoting defensible space and home-hardening initiatives.
- Reducing hazardous fuels through community-wide mitigation projects.
- Conducting wildfire risk assessments and implementing risk reduction strategies.
- Engaging fire departments, local governments, and building code officials to strengthen community wildfire resilience.
By highlighting successful mitigation efforts, the program aims to increase public awareness of wildfire risk reduction and inspire other communities to adopt proven strategies.
2027 Wildfire Mitigation Award Categories
The program recognizes achievements through three national awards.
National Wildfire Mitigation Award
Recognizes individuals, fire departments, organizations, and agencies that have implemented successful, sustainable wildfire mitigation projects within their communities.
Eligible nominees must demonstrate measurable results from at least two sustained mitigation or community fire adaptation activities conducted over a minimum of 24 months.
Nominations are considered in three categories:
- Communities with populations over 30,000: Fire departments, government agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations.
- Communities with populations of 30,000 or fewer: Fire departments, government agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations.
- Individuals: Leaders who have advanced meaningful, on-the-ground wildfire mitigation efforts.
National Wildfire Mitigation Hero Award
Recognizes an individual or organization whose community-wide mitigation efforts demonstrably reduced damage or risk when a wildfire impacted a community.
Nominees must provide evidence showing how their mitigation activities helped protect lives, homes, property, or other community assets during a wildfire.
National Wildfire Mitigation Legacy Award
Honors individuals whose long-term leadership, innovation, and dedication have significantly advanced wildfire mitigation practices at the local, state, or national level.
This award recognizes sustained contributions to wildfire risk reduction, including the development of mitigation tools, best practices, and community fire adaptation strategies.
Legacy Award recipients are selected by the awards committee. Outside nominations are not accepted for this category.
Who Can Be Nominated?
Individuals, fire departments, organizations, and federal, state, or local agencies are eligible if their work has made a significant, measurable impact on community wildfire risk reduction.
Nominated projects must benefit a community or larger geographic area. Projects focused solely on individual properties are not eligible.
Strong nominations should demonstrate:
- Measurable outcomes and sustained wildfire mitigation efforts.
- Leadership, innovation, and collaboration among community partners.
- Effective strategies that other communities could replicate.
- Documented improvements in wildfire preparedness, resilience, or risk reduction.
Submit a Nomination by January 8, 2027
Help recognize the individuals, organizations, and communities making a difference in wildfire mitigation.
Nominations must be submitted electronically and include a description of the mitigation project, measurable outcomes, at least one letter of support, and supporting documentation demonstrating the project’s impact.
Nomination Deadline: Friday, January 8, 2027, at 11:59 p.m.
Awards Presentation: March 24, 2027, at the WUI Conference in Austin, Texas.
Before submitting, review the complete 2027 Wildfire Mitigation Awards Criteria and Guidelines to ensure your nomination meets all requirements.
For questions about the nomination process, contact Lauren Holtzclaw at lholtzclaw@iafc.org.
About the Wildfire Mitigation Awards
The Wildfire Mitigation Awards are jointly sponsored by the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the USDA Forest Service.
Together, these organizations recognize exceptional wildfire mitigation achievements and promote strategies that help communities reduce wildfire risks and strengthen resilience.
