The Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management team is excited to kick off the second annual Employee Wildfire Preparedness Challenge. This voluntary challenge is a simple, meaningful way for Forest Service employees and their families to learn more about their wildfire risk, tap into helpful mitigation resources, take action at home, and have a chance to win some great prize packages.

Everything you need is in one place on the Wildfire Preparedness Challenge SharePoint site, where you can sign up and complete four steps designed to boost awareness and reduce risk around your home:

Step 1: Understand your wildfire risk.  

Step 2: Make a plan to reduce that risk.  

Step 3: Do the work and celebrate what you’ve accomplished!

Step 4: Fill out the challenge participant information and qualify to win a prize.

Even small actions at home can make a big difference. “Fire mitigation begins at home. Our 2026 Forest Service priorities focus on safety, wildfire response, and readiness—core responsibilities that extend beyond our work and into our personal lives. Many of the communities where we live face significant wildfire risk,” says Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher.

“The area immediately surrounding a home—especially the first five feet—plays a critical role in whether a structure survives a wildfire. Clearing this space is one of the simplest and most effective steps anyone can take to protect their home from wildfire. While the Forest Service collaborates with partners nationwide to address the wildfire crisis, we also have an opportunity to lead by example in our own backyards.”

As we advance the three pillars of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy—resilient landscapes, fire-adapted communities, and safe, effective wildfire response—this challenge provides another opportunity for us to take an active role in building fire-adapted communities.

This year’s challenge wraps up May 31. May is also when we celebrate Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, a national campaign led by the National Fire Protection Association, one of our longstanding partners in community wildfire mitigation.

We are promoting a culture of care within the Forest Service by taking some time to ensure the safety of the people who make it happen—our workforce. We appreciate all that you do for the Forest Service at work—and we’re excited to hear about all that you do to support wildfire resilience at home.