Council officials on Nov. 6 presented a proclamation recognizing Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Day and described recent steps the city has taken to reduce wildfire risk.

"The city is at great risk," the presenter said, noting Austin ranks "fifth in the nation. Outside of California, we are the top spot for risk for wildfire." Officials said the city is treating wildfire as a "when, not if" event and listed several steps under way: expanding the wildland-urban interface (WUI) where higher levels of construction hardness are required, launching a pilot program to remove dead and down vegetation from parks and green spaces, and releasing an updated evacuation plan through the city's emergency management department.

The proclamation text read that the CWPP is "a written document mutually agreed upon by local state and federal representatives and stakeholders that identifies high risk areas and outlines a community wildfire risk reduction plan" and that it "prioritizes hazardous fuel reduction efforts on public and private lands." The presenter thanked the wildfire division and city staff, referenced an updated wildfire hub and said the city would hold a December event to pick up vegetation fuel as part of mitigation outreach.

The items discussed during the proclamation are programmatic and preparatory; the transcript records a ceremonial proclamation and descriptions of ongoing and planned operational work but does not show a formal council vote or a request to appropriate new funds.