The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is gearing up for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 2 by announcing 18 grant recipients, each awarded $10,000 to support the annual campaign that encourages people who live in wildfire-prone areas to reduce their homes’ risk to wildfire.

NFPA reports that the selected recipients will use their award funding to execute and maximize the Preparedness Day projects they have planned for their communities this May.

“We were thrilled to see so many applications with thoughtful, innovative community-driven projects that will help homeowners take meaningful steps to protect their homes from the threat of wildfire,” said Michele Steinberg, director of the wildfire division at NFPA. “We look forward to seeing these efforts come together and are confident that each group will help make Preparedness Day a resounding success in the municipalities they serve.”

Typical Preparedness Day activities might include simple, low-cost home improvement projects such as clearing dead leaves, debris, and pine needles from roofs and gutters; keeping lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of four inches; or removing anything stored underneath decks or porches that could burn.

This year, NFPA is placing special emphasis on the immediate zone, or “Zone Zero” — the first five feet immediately around the home’s perimeter, a critical area for reducing the risk of wildfire ignition. 

NFPA has released free resources to download and share, including a campaign toolkit, visit wildfireprepday.org. Access more information about the grant recipients and the campaign on NFPA’s news release.