How Forerunner Supports Communities During and After Wildfires

Forerunner works with communities throughout the country that are affected by wildfires, storms, and other disasters. While our partners are experienced in emergency response and post-disaster recovery, with more severe storms happening more frequently, management is becoming increasingly complex. The agencies we work with are entrusted with a wide range of interconnected responsibilities, from coordinating evacuations to assessing property damage, all while navigating limited resources and managing communication across multiple levels of government.

We’re here to help. Our work at Forerunner spans from preparedness and planning to the critical response efforts undertaken in the hours and days following a wildfire. If you represent a government agency and your community is facing an ongoing wildfire or recovering from one, here’s how we can assist:

For All Communities

Whether or not your community is already a Forerunner partner, our team is eager to provide support. Here are a few ways we can assist any government agency affected by a wildfire:

Volunteer Data Entry

During and after wildfires, Forerunner staff can volunteer time to help with remote data collection and entry. We can assist your team by digitizing information collected in the field, such as initial damage assessments or resident assistance requests. This can help free up your team’s time for on-the-ground response efforts.

Volunteer Geospatial Analysis

We can support geospatial analysis – creating maps or compiling data to help track damage, identify at-risk areas, or understand resident needs. This is particularly valuable if your GIS team is focused on immediate wildfire response tasks or if your agency lacks in-house GIS resources.

Emergency Forerunner Access

Forerunner’s platform includes tools that streamline post-disaster recovery efforts. If you’re not currently a Forerunner partner, we can quickly set up a free pilot account for your agency. You’ll have access for up to three months with no strings attached, enabling your team to collect damage data and share information with residents. At the end of the trial, all data can be exported for your use in accessible file formats. Our Damage Assessment Tools, Substantial Damage Estimates Tool, and Public Website functionality are particularly useful during wildfire recovery.

How We Help Forerunner Partners

If your community already partners with Forerunner, we provide additional capabilities tailored to wildfire response and recovery:

Property-Level Wildfire Risk Data

Forerunner provides tools to integrate and visualize property-level wildfire risk data and maps, enabling your team to better understand high-risk areas and prioritize. Our platform can also centralize other key data, like defensible space compliance, to guide outreach and strategies.

Resident Communication Tools

Wildfires require clear and immediate communication with residents. Forerunner allows you to communicate with residents directly through automated property reports and a public website.

Streamlined Post-Fire Recovery

After a wildfire, Forerunner simplifies damage assessments by allowing users to collect, organize, track, and analyze field data quickly – and to store it all in one place. This is particularly helpful for applying for recovery grants, documenting mitigation needs, managing restoration projects, and reporting to state or federal agencies.

Planning for Resilience

Our platform also supports compliance and resilience planning, helping communities identify and prioritize mitigation efforts, such as firebreaks or defensible space programs. With tools that centralize and analyze historical data, your team can make informed decisions about wildfire risk management.

How to Reach Us

If your government agency needs assistance, we’re here to help - whether you’re a current partner or exploring ways to improve your wildfire risk management.

Email us anytime at hello@withforerunner.com - we’d love to work together to address your community’s needs.