Barnstable County Awarded Federal Grant to Update the Cape Cod Wildfire Preparedness Plan
Barnstable County Awarded Federal Grant to Update the Cape Cod Wildfire Preparedness Plan
Cape Cod Cooperative Extension leads wildfire planning update with support from state, local, and federal partners.
October 15, 2025 (Barnstable, MA) – Barnstable County’s Cape Cod Cooperative Extension announced today that Cape Cod has been awarded a $143,500 Community Wildfire Defense Grant from the U.S. Forest Service to update the region’s Community Wildfire Preparedness Plan. The update will provide the Cape’s 15 towns with new wildfire risk maps, town-specific strategies, and an online hub of resources designed to keep forests healthy and communities safe.
“This is a huge win for Cape Cod,” said Mike Maguire, Director, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. “Healthy forests make a resilient Cape. With our partners, we’ll be updating wildfire risk maps, preparedness strategies, and community resources that make Cape Cod safer now and for the future.”
Why it Matters
Cape Cod’s pitch pine barrens and scrub oak landscapes are naturally fire-prone, and more than 100,000 acres of open space lie where forests and neighborhoods meet. The last wildfire preparedness plan was completed in 2012. Since then, drought conditions, brush buildup, and new development have increased wildfire risks across the region.
In 2022 alone, Cape Cod experienced over 100 wildfires – a stark reminder that planning, prevention, and coordination are crucial to protecting both neighborhoods and natural resources.
The updated plan will pay special attention to wildfire-prone areas like the pine barrens of Truro and Wellfleet, the wooded fire corridors of Eastham and Provincetown, and densely settled zones in Bourne, Sandwich, and Harwich Port. It will also address wildfire risk in key federal lands, including Monomoy and Mashpee National Wildlife Refuges and Joint Base Cape Cod, where natural landscapes and infrastructure face increasing fire challenges.
What the Grant will Deliver
The $143,500 grant, combined with state and county support, will cover:
- Updated wildfire risk maps and hazard rankings for every Cape Cod town
- Town-specific preparedness strategies to guide local fire departments and officials
- A public online hub where residents and renters can access maps, tips, and wildfire resources
- Updated coordination between local, state, and federal fire partners
- Support for fuel reduction projects, outreach, and training with AmeriCorps Cape Cod and local fire departments
“Cape Cod’s forests are some of the most fire-prone in the state,” said Dave Celino, Chief Fire Warden for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). “This grant will give firefighters and communities the most current science and strategies to help reduce risk. DCR is proud to partner with Barnstable County, the Cape Cod towns, and the U.S. Forest Service on this important work.”
A Team Effort
The grant was made possible through strong partnerships across Cape Cod. Key collaborators include:
- Barnstable County Cape Cod Cooperative Extension (lead)
- Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) – Forest Fire Control
- Cape and Islands Fire Chiefs Association (CIFCA)
- Fire departments and local officials in all 15 Cape towns
- Cape Cod National Seashore
- Joint Base Cape Cod
- AmeriCorps Cape Cod
“Local fire departments see the risks on the ground every day. With this plan, we’ll have better data, clearer priorities, and stronger partnerships to protect homes, businesses, and forests from wildfire,” said Chief John Burke, Fire Chief of the Town of Sandwich and President of CIFCA.
Barnstable County Commissioners also praised the award:
“This award shows the important role of regional government,” said Sheila Lyons, Barnstable County Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Regional Commissioners. “Working collaboratively with our local governments, state and federal agencies, Cape Cod is stronger and more resilient. This plan will help protect both our residents and our natural resources.”
Next Steps
Work will begin this fall, with data collection, mapping, and outreach starting in late 2025. A draft plan will be released in 2026, followed by the final regional wildfire preparedness plan and the new public online hub.
ABOUT CAPE COD COOPERATIVE EXTENSION: Cape Cod Cooperative Extension is the education department for Barnstable County. Educational programs focus on agriculture, marine resources, horticulture, aquaculture, natural resources, water quality, recycling, household hazardous waste, nutrition, food safety, youth development and environmental education issues facing the county. Extension programs are conducted in Barnstable County in cooperation with the staff at the University of Massachusetts, and The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution–Sea Grant program.
MEDIA CONTACT: Mike Maguire, Director | Cape Cod Cooperative Extension | [email protected] | (508) 375-6701
