The Lowcountry Wildland Urban Interface Council was formed in 2005 in response to the need for localized public education in the face of rapid urban development in the South Carolina lowcountry. An inter-agency cooperative, consisting of federal, state, municipal, and local partners was convened to address the community needs. Particularly, urban growth in the lowcountry has increased the wildland urban interface at an alarming rate. Many new residents are not familiar with the purpose and benefits of prescribed fire nor the threats concerned with wildfire.

To manage these issues, the Council identified key objectives that include: 1) develop public awareness of the dangers of wildfire in the wildland urban interface; 2) increase public education about the benefits of prescribed fire as a forest management tool; and 3) provide tools for landowners to protect homes in their communities from wildfire. The Council fulfills this obective through community and youth outreach in the form of informational packets to new residents, demonstration areas, educational kiosks and workshops for community leaders and homeowners. Ask about how your neighborhood can become a Firewise Community!