Firewise is a National program, adopted by Minnesota & Cook County. Firewise encourages local solutions and fuels reduction for wildfire safety by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, firefighters, and others in the effort to protect people and property from wildfire risks.
Watch Oshkigin Spirit of Fire, a short film highlighting the deep, reciprocal relationship between Native Americans and the land along with the role fire plays in that relationship.
How can you become Firewise?
1. Become Educated.
- Read the What is Firewise Article to learn about the Cook County Firewise program and its many parts.
- Driveway Access for Emergency Vehicles is vital in an emergency situation, this handout displays the guidelines.
- This Be Ember Aware slide show focuses on your homes points of ember ignition along with how to reduce ignition at said points.
- Read the 2018 Firewise Action Report to learn about the many yearly achievements of Cook County Firewise.
- Watch the Backyard Wildfire Resiliency Webinar Recording which highlights fire behavior, defensible space, home hardening, landscape materials, and brush disposal sites.
2. Reduce the risk of ignition to your home and property.
- Watch the Firewise Property Care Video for tips on how to maintain your property and forest along with reducing wildfire damage to your structures.
- See this How to Prepare your Home for Wildfires handout to learn about the zones of protection, vegetation management, and fire resistant construction.
- For action items see the list of 50 Things You Can do to Protect Your Property from no cost to high cost.
- To request a FREE Firewise assessment of your property contact: firewise@co.cook.mn.us.
- Conduct a home self assessment with the Home Self Assessment App. A Firewise evaluation has more information and recommendations but you can use the app to self-assess your progress in wildfire protection.
- See FEMA Sprinkler System Maintenance & Defensible Space Requirements for information on how to maintain your wildfire sprinkler system. Firewise has no current or future grant funding for wildfire sprinkler systems.
- Become a part of the Firewise USA Recognition Program to get your community started on its wildfire preparedness journey.
- For information on how to protect your business from wildfire see the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.
3. Stay informed.
- Register for CodeRED and Download CodeRED: Cook County’s Emergency Notification App for emergency notifications in Cook County.
- Follow WTIP and Boreal for local news and events.
Brush Disposal and Burn Permits
*Always obtain a burning permit when required before starting planned fires*
- Brush Disposal Sites in Our Area
- Permit Issuing Locations in Cook County
- Burning Restriction Information (MN DNR Website)