The California Fire Chiefs Association (CalChiefs) has announced the successful completion of the second phase of its effort to build a new Wildland-Urban Interface Data Commons focused on wildfire risk and mitigation. With grant funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Milliman, a global risk management and actuarial consultancy, conducted the research and prepared the report on behalf of CalChiefs.
The Data Commons project aims to close critical data gaps that have long hampered wildfire resilience planning. By systematically collecting and sharing previously inaccessible information, the initiative seeks to support both community preparedness and insurance industry decision-making. Phase 2 centered on developing a shared vision for the Data Commons and creating a roadmap for its pilot launch. Milliman gathered input from more than 100 experts across the fire service, insurance and policy sectors. Their contributions shaped a plan to test the model in 30 to 50 neighborhoods across as many as seven states in the next phase. This pilot will demonstrate how verified, scalable data can guide fire agencies, communities and insurers in reducing vulnerability to wildfire.
CalChiefs leadership emphasized the importance of this work in advancing both local resilience and broader policy alignment. Executive Director Jeff Meston described the effort as a “deeply collaborative process” that addresses the urgent need for accessible wildfire data. He noted that the Data Commons will not only inform insurance and policy frameworks but also empower communities to make data-driven decisions focused on resilience and mitigation.
“The Wildland-Urban Interface Data Commons is a critical missing piece to ensuring our communities are able to prepare and mitigate the catastrophic consequences of wildfire,” said Genny Biggs, program director for the foundation’s Wildfire Resilience Initiative. “The data provides insurers and other decision makers with access to actionable information that will enable them to better support property owners, and, in turn, incentivize property owners to implement the mitigations that will matter most to reduce communities’ vulnerability to extreme wildfire events.”
Amid risks of more frequent and severe wildfires, CalChiefs and its partners see this public-private collaboration as a pivotal step toward safer communities. With Phase 3 on the horizon, the initiative aims to demonstrate how shared data can enhance resilience, expand insurance access, and improve community planning across the Western U.S.
Read the full CalChiefs press release and the Phase 2 report.
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