Washington’s Community Wildfire Ambassador (CWA) approach began as a collaboration between WRCD and the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to engage residents directly in locally-led wildfire mitigation and risk reduction.

At its core, CWA builds community. It equips neighborhood volunteers with the training, tools, and support they need to strengthen wildfire resilience where they live. It’s a proven approach that fosters local leadership, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing, helping communities become better prepared for future wildfire events. Rather than replacing existing efforts, CWA is designed to complement programs like Firewise USA® and Wildfire Ready Neighbors, connecting resident leaders across communities so they can learn from each other’s successes and challenges.

WRCD now serves as one of the administering entities of CWA. We offer trainings, provide networking opportunities, and develop tools for practitioners. As of 2025, CWA has been adapted in 6 counties after its initial pilot phase in the Methow Valley during 2024.