Community Mitigation Assistance Team
Helping communities overcome wildfire risk barriers through
partnership-driven solutions and action-oriented support.
About CMAT
The Community Mitigation Assistance Team (CMAT) is a national interagency technical assistance resource designed to support communities facing wildfire risk by strengthening local capacity for community wildfire mitigation.
CMAT works with communities, agencies, and partners to identify mitigation challenges, improve coordination, and support the development of sustainable, locally led wildfire mitigation efforts. CMAT assignments are tailored to individual community needs and occur before, during, or after wildfire incidents.
CMAT integrates community fire adaptation and resilient landscapes concepts outlined in the National Cohesive Wildfire Management Strategy into recommendations and technical assistance provided to communities.
Across the United States, many communities face increasing wildfire risk but lack the capacity, coordination, or technical support needed to move mitigation efforts forward. While awareness of wildfire risk may be high, translating that awareness into sustained, effective action can be challenging.
CMAT was created to address this gap by providing targeted technical assistance and facilitation at critical moments when communities are most receptive to mitigation planning and action. The goal is to help communities build durable mitigation capacity that continues beyond a CMAT assignment.
HISTORY
CMAT was developed by the U.S. Forest Service in 2015 as part of a broader effort to strengthen national wildfire mitigation capacity. A cooperative partnership with Coalitions and Collaboratives, Inc. (COCO) supports CMAT training, workforce development, and long term coordination to expand the program’s reach and effectiveness.
CMAT supports communities by providing facilitation, technical guidance, and mentorship focused on building long term wildfire mitigation capacity.
CMAT does:
- Facilitate collaboration among local, state, federal, nonprofit, and community partners
- Provide technical assistance related to community wildfire mitigation best practices
- Support development and strengthening of local mitigation organizations and coalitions
- Help identify priority mitigation actions aligned with local capacity and readiness
CMAT’s role is to support and enable locally led mitigation efforts, not to carry out mitigation work directly.
CMAT does not replace local leadership, it strengthens it.
- Request & Coordination: Communities or partners submit a CMAT request outlining local needs and goals. CMAT works with local contacts to confirm fit, clarify priorities, review existing plans and data, and coordinate with key partners in advance of on-site engagement.
- On-the-Ground Engagement: CMAT conducts site visits, meetings, and facilitated workshops with community leaders, fire departments, land managers, and partner organization to better understand local conditions, identify barriers to mitigation, and surface opportunities for collaboration and action.
- Findings & Recommendations: Concluding the visit, CMAT provides a summary of observations, challenges, and recommended next steps. These prioritized recommendations are practical, partner-driven, and grounded in what is achievable locally.
- Transition & Follow-Up: CMAT assignments are designed to leave communities with clearer direction, stronger partnerships, and tools to continue mitigation efforts after the team departs. CMAT’s support does not end with the on-site assignment. CMAT remains committed to supporting communities beyond the on-site assignment to help ensure lasting progress.
If your community is facing wildfire mitigation challenges and could benefit from focused, collaborative support, CMAT may be able to help. We encourage communities and partners to reach out to learn more and talk through your situation before submitting a formal request.
If CMAT appears to be a good fit, communities may choose to complete a CMAT request form in coordination with local partners: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cmat-request-form-1124.pdf. (Submission details and contacts are included on the form.)
Requests are reviewed based on need, readiness, partner support, and available capacity. If you’re unsure whether CMAT is the right fit for your community, we’re happy to talk through your situation and help identify appropriate next steps.
CMAT has supported communities across the United States facing a wide range of wildfire mitigation challenges since 2014. Past assignments have helped communities:
- Align local, state, federal, and nonprofit partners
- Identify priority mitigation actions and high-risk areas
- Strengthen or launch community-led mitigation efforts
- Improve coordination before, during, or after wildfire incidents
- Build momentum toward long-term wildfire resilience
Assignments often occur at critical moments: when wildfire risk is elevated, after an incident, or when communities are ready to turn planning into action.
- List of past assignments: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/cmat
- Explore past assignment impact stories: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/3d2e9c830bf74609a6e87ba9d93c17f0
CMAT members are experienced wildfire mitigation specialists with strong skills in community mitigation best practices, wildfire behavior, collaboration, communication, and problem solving. Familiarity with the Incident Command System (ICS) is required.
Assignments typically last 7–14 days with long workdays. Team members must provide their own laptop, cell phone, and personal credit card (approved expenses are reimbursed).
CMAT members are ordered through Interagency Resource Ordering Capability (IROC) and paid based on position status (agency employee, casual hire, or cooperator/partnership agreement). Travel and per diem are reimbursed per policy. CMAT members report to a Team Lead, who serves as the liaison with the local Forest and community.
If you are interested in becoming a CMAT member, please submit an application: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cmat-team-application-form.pdf
- USDA Forest Service CMAT Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/cmat
- Community Wildfire Mitigation Best Practices Toolbox: https://co-co.org/community-wildfire-mitigation-best-practices-toolbox/
- CWMBP training: https://co-co.org/programs/community-wildfire-mitigation-best-practices-training/
- Wildfire Risk to Communities: https://wildfirerisk.org/