Wildfire, wildlands, and people: understanding and preparing for wildfire in the wildland-urban interface - a Forests on the Edge report

S. M. Stein; James Menakis; M. A. Carr; S. J. Comas; Susan I. Stewart; H. Cleveland; Lincoln Bramwell; V. C. Radeloff

doi:10.2737/RMRS-GTR-299

Treesearch

Wildfire, wildlands, and people: understanding and preparing for wildfire in the wildland-urban interface - a Forests on the Edge report

Informally Refereed

Authors:

S. M. Stein, James Menakis, M. A. Carr, S. J. Comas, Susan I. Stewart, H. Cleveland, Lincoln Bramwell, V. C. Radeloff

Year:

2013

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/RMRS-GTR-299

Source:

Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-299. Fort Collins, CO. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 36 p.

Download (PDF 8.53 MB)

Download (PDF 8.53 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/43016.pdf

Abstract

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.

Keywords

wildfire, community planning, fire-adapted, wildland-urban interface, defensible space

Citation

Stein, S. M.; Menakis, J.; Carr, M. A.; Comas, S. J.; Stewart, S. I.; Cleveland, H.; Bramwell, L.; Radeloff, V. C. 2013. Wildfire, wildlands, and people: understanding and preparing for wildfire in the wildland-urban interface - a Forests on the Edge report. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-299. Fort Collins, CO. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 36 p.