How to bridge cultural understanding and proactive fire mitigation to protect tribal communities
Key Takeaways
- Wildfire mitigation starts long before a spark — Help tribal clients reduce risk through proactive vegetation management, defensible space and resilient construction.
- Know how wildfires behave — Understanding fire types and spread patterns can guide smarter planning and safer building choices.
- Support long-term resilience — Collaborate with tribal clients on culturally informed strategies that protect both property and heritage.
Wildfires are a persistent and growing threat across the American West and Southwest. According to CoreLogic’s 2025 Wildfire Risk Report, the most threatened states include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington. In fact, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington rank among the most wildfire-prone in the nation due to their dry climates, dense vegetation, overhead powerlines and frequent lightning strikes — a combustible combination that can easily ignite wildfires.
Many Native American tribes reside in high-risk regions, on lands that have faced fire for generations. Recent events, like the Palisades Fire, have emphasized just how vulnerable remote tribal communities are to the devastating impacts of wildfires. In response, there has been a renewed focus to proactive wildfire mitigation.
Given the unique challenges tribal lands face — often located in isolated, remote and hard-to-reach areas — it’s critical to identify strategies that reduce wildfire risk in these communities. By working closely with tribal clients, you can play a key role in helping protect not only people and property but also the culture and heritage rooted in these lands.
Mitigating fire risk
When working with tribal clients in wildfire-prone regions, it’s important to consider both standard risk assessment measures and culturally relevant practices. Wildfire mitigation starts long before a spark.
Use the following checklist to guide your conversations with tribal clients:
- Vegetation management: Are there dead or dying trees near properties? What removal protocols are in place?
- Building materials: Do structures have fire-resistive roofs (Class “C” or higher)?
- Chimney safety: Are spark arrestors installed on wood-stove flues and fireplace chimney openings?
- Fuel storage: How far are fuel tanks from any structures?
- Utilities: Are power and fuel lines above or below ground, and how close are they to buildings and vegetation?
- Water access: Are there accessible water sources (tanks, lakes, rivers) or nearby fire stations?
- Defensible space: Is there a clear area (30–50 feet) around buildings free of combustible materials?
- Construction practices: Are new buildings using fire-resistive materials and ember-resistant features?
Related: Wildfire mitigation starts with a plan
Designing for wildfire defense
When clients are planning new construction in wildfire-prone areas, consider recommending preventative design choices that help reduce wildfire risk:
- Use fire-resistive and durable materials
- Choose metal or asphalt shingles for roofing
- Install covered gutters with ember-resistant screens
- Eliminate combustible materials within 30-50 feet of structures
- Keep firewood, outdoor furniture and dry vegetation away from the home
Related: Wildfire safety tips for businesses
Understanding wildfire risks
Recognizing how wildfires behave is key to effective planning. Wildfires can be classified into two main types — forest/woodland fires and brush/grassland fires — each with distinct characteristics that affect how quickly and dangerously they spread.
Forest/woodland fires burn among the trees and can be divided into four categories:
- Surface fires: Burn ground litter and low shrubs.
- Dependent crown fires: Surface fires rise that climb into the tree canopy.
- Active crown fires: Burn both surface and canopy layers.
- Running crown fires: Spread rapidly through treetops, often generating spot fires.
Brush/grass fires tend to move faster than forest fires due to wind exposure. Their flames can reach up to five times the height of the vegetation.
Understanding both types enables more accurate risk assessment, allows for tailored underwriting and mitigation guidance and supports the development of appropriate coverage in wildfire-prone areas.
Related: Wildfire risks are growing. Here’s how they start.
Creating a defensible buffer
Reducing wildfire exposure means more than trimming trees; it requires thinking holistically about defensible space, fire-resistive building materials and regional risks. Key factors to assess include:
- Nearby vegetation density and dryness
- Water availability for firefighting
- Distance to emergency response services
- Local regulations that may restrict land clearing
- The property’s slope and surrounding terrain
- Construction materials and techniques
- Outdoor storage of flammable items
- Use of early detection technologies and warning systems
Building long-term resilience
Supporting wildfire mitigation is more than a service; it’s a commitment to the long-term safety and cultural preservation of the communities you serve. Tribal clients, especially, benefit from an informed, empathetic approach that values preparedness and preservation. By taking initiative today, you help strengthen infrastructure, protect cultural heritage and ensure that when wildfires strike, communities remain strong.
To learn more about our commitment to protecting tribal communities, explore our Tribal Program.
This material has been prepared for general informational purposes only, is intended to apply generally rather than to any specific company and presumes appropriate discretion will be exercised regarding any particular situation.
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