Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)

Wildfire Preparedness for Girdwood

Girdwood sits within Alaska’s wildland-urban interface, where homes, businesses, and natural vegetation meet. The Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is the Municipality of Anchorage’s roadmap for reducing wildfire risk across that interface, and Girdwood Fire and Rescue helped shape it. Here’s what it means for our community, and what you can do at home.

What Is the CWPP?

The CWPP is a community-driven plan, not a regulation. It was built with input from over 40 local, state, and federal partner agencies, along with residents, to identify wildfire hazards and recommend practical ways to reduce risk. The plan:

  • Assesses wildfire risk across the wildland-urban interface
  • Prioritizes mitigation projects and risk-reduction strategies
  • Coordinates preparedness, response, and recovery efforts among agencies
  • Supports public education and wildfire awareness
  • Unlocks eligibility for grant funding tied to demonstrated community planning

The updated CWPP was formally signed on December 9, 2025, following a multi-year process of field assessments, public surveys, town halls, and community engagement. Girdwood Fire and Rescue Chief Michelle Weston was among the signatories representing our community.

Why It Matters for Girdwood

Girdwood’s mix of residential neighborhoods, dense vegetation, and seasonal recreation areas puts much of our community squarely in the wildland-urban interface, where fire can move quickly given the right conditions. While the CWPP covers the entire Municipality of Anchorage, its risk assessments, maps, and mitigation recommendations apply directly to Girdwood and the Turnagain Arm corridor. The plan supports:

  • Wildfire awareness and household preparedness for residents
  • Fuel reduction and hazard mitigation projects in our area
  • Coordinated emergency response among Girdwood Fire and Rescue, Anchorage Fire Department, and partner agencies
  • Access to grant funding for local wildfire safety work

What You Can Do at Home

Wildfire preparedness starts at the property line. A few proactive steps make a real difference for your home and for the firefighters who may need to defend it.

Create defensible space. Clear dead vegetation, leaves, and brush within at least 30 feet of structures. Prune low tree branches to 6-10 feet off the ground, keep gutters and roofs free of debris, and store firewood and other flammable materials away from your home.

Maintain your property year-round. Mow grass regularly, thin dense vegetation, and move flammable materials like propane tanks well clear of structures. Consider fire-resistant landscaping where possible, especially in spring and fall.

Prepare for embers, not just flames. Embers can travel well ahead of a fire front. Install ¼-inch (or smaller) mesh screens on vents, use non-combustible materials near foundations and rooflines, and keep roof valleys and eaves clear of debris.

Stay informed. Sign up for local emergency alerts, follow Girdwood Fire and Rescue for wildfire updates, and know your evacuation routes before you need them.

Work with your neighbors. Wildfire risk doesn’t stop at property lines. Talk with neighbors about shared evacuation plans, coordinate fuel reduction on adjoining boundaries, or look into starting a Firewise® community group.

Plan Documents and Maps

The full CWPP is a comprehensive document, but the Municipality has made it easy to find what’s relevant:

Learn More and Get Involved

For the complete plan, maps, and supporting materials, visit the Municipality of Anchorage Wildfire Division CWPP page. For questions about wildfire planning or applying CWPP guidance to your Girdwood property, contact the Wildfire Division at wildfire@muni.org or reach out to Girdwood Fire and Rescue directly.

For emergencies, always call 911.