The event is part of a community engagement effort to update the 2026 City of Austin/Travis County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, a collaborative document to address wildfire concerns that is updated every 10 years.
The details
The community wildfire protection plan aims to identify risk areas, prioritize areas for wildfire mitigation funding and make recommendations for homeowners to reduce fire risk. At the Nov. 19 event, the public will be able to share ideas about wildlife prevention and identify risk areas.
“It is also paramount that our community members take action themselves to prepare for these hazards and know what to do and where to go should their neighborhood need to evacuate,” Austin Emergency Management Director Jim Redick said in a Nov. 7 news release.
Residents can register for the event here.
The background
The virtual public webinar is one of several steps Austin and Travis County officials are taking to increase wildfire protections, according to a news release from the city.
On Oct. 20, the city declared a local disaster declaration due to increased wildfire risk across Central Texas.
“Since that declaration and the announcement, the city has moved very fast to strengthen preparedness, update resources and importantly, to connect directly with members of our community,” Mayor Kirk Watson said at a Nov. 7 press conference.
Watson also announced “No-Ember November” this fall, a campaign to educate and caution communities against activities that could cause a wildfire.
“It is important that we as community leaders take action to educate the public on this risk and steps they can take to protect themselves while we are also planning for how to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters,” Watson said in a city news release.
What else?
A Community Wildfire Protection Plan Community Survey is available here. For more information, visit the 2026 City of Austin/Travis County Community Wildfire Protection Plan website.
