Our spatial analysis of historic wildfire perimeters shows that between 2000 and 2019 nearly 2,000 communities were threatened by wildfires (100+ acres) burning within two miles of town. Many communities have experienced repeated threats from wildfires, such as Los Angeles, CA, which has had 41 wildfires burn close to city limits since 2000.

Many other large cities across the country have been similarly threatened by nearby burning wildfires—including Houston, San Diego, Las Vegas, Jacksonville, and New York—resulting in the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people.

It is often assumed that wildfire disasters and related home losses are a result of a large wildfire front, yet it is the much less conspicuous embers that destroy homes.

The risk of home loss increases as a wildfire approaches a community and as the fire grows in size and intensity. Within one mile of the community, indirect exposure from embers becomes a significant concern.

Knowing which communities have experienced historic wildfires close to town and understanding the role of embers in home destruction during a wildfire can help identify frequently impacted areas. Communities at high risk to wildfires need to consider adaptive planning efforts focused on living with the inevitability of wildfires.

Embers Are the Primary Threat to Homes

During a wildfire, embers—also known as firebrands—can travel nearly a mile ahead of the wildfire front. The embers land on various surfaces and if those surfaces are vulnerable to ignition (such as dry vegetation, debris, wood, and other combustible material), the embers can grow into individual spot fires.

Given enough fuel, the spot fires increase in size and intensity and ultimately threaten to burn down the home. A single burning structure can result in home-to-home ignitions and threaten an entire neighborhood. Once multiple homes are ignited, firefighter responses can be quickly overwhelmed and a wildfire disaster can occur.

The sequence of a wildfire disaster can be broken by the home ignition zone (HIZ)—the home’s materials, design, and maintenance in relation to its immediate (100’) surroundings. Reducing opportunities for embers to ignite within the HIZ correspondingly reduce the potential for the home itself to burn as well as the surrounding neighborhood.

Overcoming popular perceptions that wildfire disasters are a wildfire control problem rather than a home ignition problem determined by the HIZ will reduce home loss. By focusing on the home itself—including building materials, design, and layout—as well as the immediate characteristics surrounding the home such as landscaping and terrain, community wildfire resiliency is increased.