Pathology of wildfire risk: A characterization of social and ecological dimensions

Abstract

Despite dramatic increases in suppression spending, the risk of life and property loss associated with wildfire has continued to rise in recent decades. Economic losses from wildfires have doubled in the United States and suppression expenses have tripled between 2002 and 2012 compared to the decade prior. Loss of property to wildfire has outpaced efforts to reduce wildfire risk through thinning and prescribed burning. Although wildfire risk is an increasingly global problem, its growing urgency in the Western United States - partially attributed to residential expansion into fire-prone areas - necessitates greater attention to management policies.

Citation

Fischer, A. Paige; Spies, Thomas A; Steelman, Toddi A; Moseley, Cassandra; Johnson, Bart R; Bailey, John D; Ager, Alan A; Bourgeron, Patrick; Charnley, Susan; Collins, Brandon M; Kline, Jeffrey D; Leahy, Jessica E; Littell, Jeremy S; Millington, James DA; Nielsen-Pincus, Max; Olsen, Christine S; Paveglio, Travis B; Roos, Christopher I; Steen-Adams, Michelle M; Stevens, Forrest R; Vukomanovic, Jelena; White, Eric M; Bowman, David M. J. S. 2016. Pathology of wildfire risk: A characterization of social and ecological dimensions. Research Brief 11. Northwest Fire Science Consortium. 2 p.