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Firewise Program

DC Ranch has partnered with the Scottsdale Fire Department to become the largest community in the nation to be Firewise certified. The Ranch Association Board of Directors voted in 2021 to move forward with the Firewise program.

What is Firewise?

Firewise is a program that encourages communities to create conditions that reduce wildfire intensity to help prevent home ignitions. It is a program of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) administered locally through assistance by the Scottsdale Fire Department, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (ADFFM).

The idea is to create defensible space around a home’s exterior to remove invasive plants, ladder fuels, low hanging branches and dead plants to allow firefighter access to keep wildfires at bay.

There are five key steps to receiving Firewise community certification. Per NFPA, a community must create a Firewise committee and/or Board, complete a community hazard assessment, create and submit a Firewise plan, hold an annual Firewise event and make a minimum investment per household in local wildfire mitigation.

Project Phases

The project will be done in phases over several years. Click here to view a map of project areas.

In 2022, the first phase of the project addressed clearing in Arcadia, Horseshoe and the Camelot neighborhoods. Over 41,700 linear feet of ladder fuels were cleared.

Phase two in 2023 included clearing in Country Club, Windgate, Terrace Homes East and West, The Estates, and Montelena. Over 38,183 linear feet of ladder fuels were cleared.

In 2024, phase three will include clearing in Desert Haciendas, Market Street Villas, Pioneer, Rosewood, and Desert Camp Haciendas.

partnerships and sub-associations

DC Ranch partnered with the Country Club at DC Ranch to assist with their Firewise efforts. One sub-association, Villas at Desert Camp, completed Firewise and two other sub-associations have begun Firewise work and plan to be completed in 2024. All sub-associations are encouraged to become Firewise compliant.

Resident Resources

DC Ranch residents are encouraged to ensure their properties are also Firewise compliant.