Five awarded for wildfire mitigation leadership and impact

Five individuals and organisations have been named recipients of the 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Awards.

The awardees were selected for their leadership in wildfire prevention efforts across Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho and Florida.

The awards recognise community-level action, technical innovation, and collaboration in reducing wildfire risk.

Community-led and nonprofit efforts recognised in Colorado and Hawai’i

Aaron Johnson from Ridgway, Colorado, has been recognised for developing the Wildfire Ready Home certification programme.

The programme integrates data and guidance from insurance providers, local governments, and fire agencies to support homeowners in reducing wildfire risk.

Johnson also provides wildfire assessment training to homeowners’ associations and fire departments.

The Hawai’i Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO), operating across the state for 25 years, provided support after the August 2023 Lahaina fires.

In 2024, HWMO reached over 10,000 residents with workshops, assessments, campaigns, and projects.

Public sector wildfire mitigation efforts in Idaho and Florida

Tyre Holfeltz of the Idaho Department of Lands received the award for his work in helping counties update Community Wildfire Protection Plans and for developing vegetation management partnerships with utility companies.

He contributed to the development of a geospatial database and served in the national Grant Accomplishment Reporting Portal working group.

In Florida, Aleese Maples of the Chipola Forestry Center facilitated 206 mitigation projects across seven counties after Hurricane Michael.

She designed the contractor bidding and procurement process that resulted in 1,847 acres of defensible space near homes.

Volunteer-driven model in Colorado receives national recognition

The NoFloCo Fire Mitigation Posse, led by founder Don Moore in Teller County, Colorado, has been awarded for its volunteer-based approach to wildfire mitigation.

The group uses non-mechanised methods to keep costs down and reduce environmental impact.

Volunteers are recognised with symbolic awards, such as a purple hard hat for repeated participation, and community meals follow each event.

The group was nominated by one of its own volunteers.

Additional mentions and upcoming awards ceremony

The Wildfire Mitigation Awards Committee also highlighted several efforts outside the primary awardees.

These included 103 mitigation projects recorded in a virtual dashboard by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and a community-focused “WUI Summit” held in South Carolina by the State Forestry Commission.

The 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Awards will be presented at the Wildland-Urban Interface Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, on 28 March 2025.

NFPA, NASF, IAFC and the USDA Forest Service will also host a virtual meeting between award recipients and partner organisations prior to the event.

The nomination period for the 2026 awards is expected to open in summer 2025.

Wildfire Mitigation Awards 2025 recipients announced across four US states: Summary

NFPA has announced five recipients of the 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Awards.

The awardees are Aaron Johnson (Colorado), Hawai’i Wildfire Management Organization, Tyre Holfeltz (Idaho), Aleese Maples (Florida), and NoFloCo Fire Mitigation Posse with Don Moore (Colorado).

The awards highlight local action, public sector programmes, nonprofit leadership, and volunteer-based models.

Each awardee was cited for measurable wildfire risk reduction and technical contribution.

Additional mentions were made of efforts in California and South Carolina.

The awards will be presented at the Wildland-Urban Interface Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, on 28 March 2025.

The programme was founded in 2014 by NASF, IAFC, NFPA, and USDA Forest Service.

The 2026 nominations open in summer 2025.

All information was reported by NFPA.