Reno accepts 2026 Community Wildfire Protection Plan, presses residents on home hardening

Reno City Council accepted the final 2026 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), the city said on a recent "On the Agenda" podcast, adopting a five-year roadmap for wildfire mitigation in city limits and adjacent Wildland-Urban Interface areas.

The plan update was funded primarily through a FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety grant of approximately $244,000 and was led by environmental consultant SWCA, Reno Fire Inspector Talina Skye said. Skye said city staff provided the required match through in-kind hours.

Reno Fire Chief Dave Cochran said the CWPP focuses mitigation work on neighborhoods that abut wildland fuels and refines regional hazard mapping so the city can target fuels-reduction projects, from managed goat grazing to hand crews. "When you call 911, someone will answer and be able to automatically dispatch the appropriate police, fire, or ambulance," Cochran said earlier when discussing regional CAD benefits; on wildfire preparedness he said, "Everyone can make a difference."

The plan also includes resident-facing tools and property-specific guidance on home hardening and defensible space. Inspectors highlighted practical steps homeowners can take: maintain a five-foot noncombustible zone around structures, harden vents and eaves (for example with metal mesh screening), and remove highly combustible plants such as junipers.

Officials said the Reno Fire Department will assist residents at no charge and provided the Fire Prevention Bureau contact: (775) 334-2300. Skye directed homeowners to an online hub of interactive maps and home-hardening guidance at reno.gov/fire.

Adopting a city-specific CWPP also preserves eligibility for additional funding, Skye said, including the federal Community Wildfire Defense Grant and other state grant opportunities. City leaders plan to use the CWPP to support grant applications and prioritize projects in higher-risk neighborhoods.

The council vote to accept the plan was announced on the podcast; the transcript did not include a recorded roll-call or vote tally. The plan is recommended to be updated every five years as conditions and funding opportunities change.