Overview
Fire has historically played a fundamental ecological role in many of America's wildland areas. However, the rising number of homes in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), associated impacts on lives and property from wildfire, and escalating costs of wildfire management have led to an urgent need for communities to become "fire-adapted." We present maps of the conterminous United States that illustrate historical natural fire regimes, the wildland-urban interface, and the number and location of structures burned since 1999. We outline a sampler of actions, programs, and community planning and development options to help decrease the risks of and damages from wildfire.
Key Points Covered
People who live in the wildland-urban interface in particular may face increasing risk and property damage from wildfires of all sizes in coming decades
Homes and other structures across the United States in a wide range of vegetation types have already been lost to wildfire.
Numerous opportunities are available for planners, developers, and others to help wildland-urban interface communities adapt to wildfire through education, planning and mitigation, that can help limit the number of ignitions, reduce flammable vegetation and create Firewise homes.