Forest residences boost blaze costs

…A 2009 study found the state has nearly 200,000 residences in its wildland-urban interface – defined by the study’s author, Montana-based Headwaters Economics, as private forestlands within 500 meters of public forestlands. Washington’s level of development in wildland-urban areas, according to the study, is the second-highest (21 percent) among the 11 Western states.

Defending homes in the wildland-urban interface is by far the priciest part of fighting large wildfires, accounting for 50 to 95 percent of total suppression costs, according to a 2006 federal audit. The mere presence of those homes also drives wildland firefighting policy, turning many naturally caused fires that might otherwise be allowed to run their course – often to the long-term benefit of the forest – into ones that must be suppressed to protect the houses.

“Only about 2 percent of these (naturally ignited) fires are allowed to burn now, and the main reason is there are homes in the way,” said Ray Rasker, executive director of Headwaters Economics.…

The Spokesman Review

Author:
Ben Alexander

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