Join the Movement Toward Wildfire Resilience
Wildfire Resilience Month is an annual series of events designed to Ignite Connection and empower communities to take meaningful action in to prepare for wildfire. Throughout May, residents will have opportunities to connect with experts, learn practical wildfire risk-reduction strategies, and work with neighbors toward a more fire-adapted future.
**Please check back often! We will continue to update this page throughout the month with wildfire resilience events and opportunities near you.
List of Upcoming Events (click each event for details)
May 3 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Bishop City Park, Bishop
Wildfire Resilience Month begins with the region’s first Wildfire Ready Festival, Sierra Spark! The goal for this event is to provide wildfire safety education in a way that is approachable, engaging, and rooted in community connection.
This all-ages event will feature live music by The Felt Cutouts, local food trucks, and an interactive kid zone. Attendees can participate in hands-on workshops and demonstrations, explore educational exhibits, and connect with local organizations working toward wildfire readiness and sustainable landscapes. There will also be free green waste disposal onsite, making it easy for residents to take immediate, proactive steps to reduce wildfire risk around their homes.
EVENT SCHEDULE (subject to change)
HIGHLIGHTS
10:00am-2:00pm FREE Green Waste Dropoff
10:30am-1:30pm LIVE MUSIC - The Felt Cutouts
11:30am-12:00pm Photos with Fire Prevention Mascots
12:30pm-1:00pm Meet the Firetrucks
1:15am-1:45pm Bishop Fire Protection District Wildland Firefighting Demonstration
WORKSHOP GAZEBO
11:00am-11:30am Evacuation Workshop
12:15pm-1:00pm Ember-Resistant Vent Retrofit Demo
PARTICIPATION PRIZES
12:00pm / 2:00pm
Thank you to the local businesses that donated great prizes!
Rock Creek Lakes Resort, Smoketree Apothecary, Mammoth Mountaineering Supply, DIY Home Center, Patagonia, MIIR, Whitebark – Ignite Awareness, Dan Mingori Photography, Mammoth Lakes Tourism, Ready Mono, Chalfant Big Trees, Eastern Sierra Aerial Arts, Ace Hardware
By attending, guests consent to being filmed/photographed, and that the media may be used for marketing without compensation.
No live animals are permitted within 20 feet of food facilities.
May 7 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Mountain Rambler Brewery, Bishop
Understanding how forests function—and how we can better manage them—is key to building wildfire resilience. This presentation will explore the importance of reestablishing silvicultural practices in fire-adapted forests and how thoughtful forest management can help restore healthier landscapes while reducing wildfire risk.
May 16 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Community Recreation Center, Mammoth Lakes
Community action is one of the most powerful tools for wildfire preparedness. Mammoth Lakes residents are invited to take advantage of free green waste disposal as part of Town Cleanup Weekend. The Mammoth Lakes Wildfire Taskforce will be offering signups for free home evaluations including grant funded incentives to help residents reduce wildfire risk. Resources from local organizations will be available to learn about defensible space, home hardening, and how to contribute to a more sustainable Eastern Sierra. All participants are welcome to enjoy a community BBQ at the conclusion of the event.
May 28 | 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Online Webinar
Wildfire science and insurance are becoming increasingly connected. This virtual event offers a rare look inside one of the world’s leading wildfire research facilities. Steve Hawks will demonstrate how live wildfire simulations are helping researchers better understand home ignition risks and inform strategies for safer communities.
“Steve Hawks is the Senior Director for Wildfire for the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). Steve’s responsibilities at IBHS include wildfire policy, partnerships, and code development, post-fire analysis, and implementation of the Wildfire Prepared Home and Neighborhood programs. Steve has over three decades of experience in fire suppression and prevention, having served since 1989 with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) until his retirement as Assistant Deputy Director of the CAL FIRE – Office of the State Fire Marshal Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation Division in 2022.”
Register for webinar here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/0fRBEeTLSPyiT-j8btGmRA
April 11 – May 11, 2026
Cleanup day events
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Independence Green Waste Cleanup | Apr 11–12 |
| Big Pine Saddle Club Cleanup | Apr 17–24 |
| Blue Heron Community Chipping | Apr 17–19 |
| Alabama Hills Firewise Community Green Waste Cleanup | Apr 25–26 |
| 40 Acres Green Dumpster Day | May 15–Jun 1 |
| Starlite Green Waste Community Chipping | May 11 |
Communities across the Eastern Sierra are taking proactive steps to reduce wildfire risk by removing excess vegetation in defensible space zones and working to harden their homes against ember intrusion. Get involved in a neighborhood near you!
For more information about each of the events contact: Kristen.pfeiler@inyocounty.us
Working Together for a Fire Resilient Future
Wildfire Resilience Month is about turning awareness into meaningful action. This regional effort is made possible through the continued collaboration between Whitebark Institute, Mono and Inyo Counties, partner agencies, and community organizations committed to working together to build wildfire resilience across the Eastern Sierra.
Learn more about how YOU can help make a difference at whitebarkInstitute.org/IgniteAwareness
Your donations support resilience and restoration in the Eastern Sierra
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