From Vision to Action: How Desert Region Fire Safe Sparked the Pioneertown Firewise Movement
On December 5, 2023, The Fire Safe Triad—a collaboration between Desert Region Fire Safe (DRFS), the High Desert Emergency Action Alliance (HDEAA), and the Inland Empire Fire Safe Alliance (IEFSA)—convened a meeting in Pioneertown with a clear mission: to introduce the Firewise Communities program and empower residents to take charge of their wildfire resilience.
We didn’t come alone—we brought key agency partners, including CAL FIRE and San Bernardino County Fire Department, to reinforce the importance of proactive community-led fire mitigation. That meeting wasn’t just a discussion; it was the spark that set the Pioneertown Area Firewise Community in motion.
Building Fire Resilient Communities—A Core Mandate
One of the core mandates of The Triad is to establish and support Firewise Communities and Fire Safe Councils throughout the High Desert and the Inland Empire. Our organizations work to bring fire safety education, hands-on mitigation efforts, grant opportunities, and community organizing support to areas at risk of wildfires. Pioneertown is a prime example of how early action and collaboration can lead to long-term community resilience.
From Presentation to Mobilization
At the December 5th meeting, we introduced the Firewise framework, explaining how a united community effort could:
✅ Reduce wildfire risks through defensible space and structural hardening
✅ Qualify for potential insurance discounts under California’s new Fire Hazard Modeling regulations
✅ Access wildfire preparedness resources provided by DRFS, IEFSA, and our agency partners
The residents of Pioneertown embraced this vision. Over the past year, alongside organizations like Friends of Pioneertown and the Pioneertown Emergency Preparedness Network (PEPN), they’ve taken concrete steps toward Firewise certification, including:
Conducting wildfire risk assessments
Developing a three-year Firewise Action Plan
Tracking volunteer hours
Launching a website and Facebook page
Beyond Recognition: What Comes Next?
Earning Firewise recognition is a significant milestone, but maintaining fire resilience is ongoing for any community. This is where Fire Safe organizations continue to offer support beyond recognition, ensuring communities have the resources they need to stay prepared year after year.
Here’s how we support Firewise Communities after recognition:
🔥 Annual Wildfire Risk Assessments – We help communities conduct post-recognition property assessments, ensuring continued compliance with Firewise best practices.
🔥 Grant Guidance & Funding Support – We assist in identifying funding opportunities for vegetation management, home hardening projects, and community-wide fire mitigation efforts.
🔥 Access to Fire Prevention Tools & Equipment – We connect communities with resources like chippers, trailers, and dump run programs to assist with fuel reduction projects.
🔥 Training & Education Programs – We coordinate defensible space workshops, emergency preparedness training, and wildfire mitigation courses to keep community members engaged and informed.
🔥 Community-Based Fire Response Planning – We work with Firewise groups to develop evacuation drills, emergency communication strategies, and community disaster response plans.
🔥 Firewise Events & Volunteer Coordination – We assist in organizing community wildfire preparedness events, tracking volunteer hours, and coordinating fuel reduction projects.
🔥 Connecting Firewise Communities to a Larger Network – We provide opportunities for Firewise communities to collaborate, learn from one another, and share best practices across the Inland Empire.
A Milestone Moment: The January 27 Community Meeting
Now, thirteen months after that first meeting, the Pioneertown Area Firewise Community is taking its next major step—a town meeting on January 27, 2025, at the old Pioneertown Fire Station.
This event will bring residents, local leaders, and representatives from CAL FIRE, SBCFD, and HDEAA to discuss the next steps, fire resilience strategies, and how to finalize Firewise certification. It’s a moment of celebration—proof that real progress happens when a community comes together.
Your Community Could Be Next—Let’s Get Started
The success of Pioneertown’s Firewise efforts is just one example of how The Triad are working to empower communities to take wildfire preparedness into their own hands. If your High Desert or Inland Empire community is at risk of wildfires, now is the time to take action.
🔥 Interested in starting a Firewise Community or Fire Safe Council?
Contact us today to learn how we can help your community reduce risk, access resources, and build long-term wildfire resilience. 📩 Get in touch: https://hdeaa.org/contact
Let’s work together to make our communities safer, one step at a time.
Stay tuned for photos and updates from the January 27 meeting!