Wildfire
Wildfires are burning with increasing frequency and intensity, threatening thousands of communities. Our research and community assistance help identify strategies such as land use planning and building for wildfire resistance that reduce risk.
Featured research
Protecting our Past: Wildfire Strategies for Historic Buildings
The loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge to wildfire underscores the urgent need to align historic preservation standards with evidence-based wildfire risk reduction practices.
The next generation of wildfire risk models must account for the built environment
New research highlights opportunities to improve wildfire risk models that inform planning, building codes, and risk management.
Building wildfire-resistant homes after disasters will save billions
Upfront investments in rebuilding to wildfire-resistant standards can save billions in future avoided economic losses.
America’s urban wildfire crisis: More than 1,100 communities at risk
More than 1,100 communities in 32 states face similar risks to Los Angeles and other places with recent urban wildfires, highlighting the urgent need for wildfire-resistant homes and neighborhoods.
The path to wildfire-resistant building codes in Colorado offers lessons for other states
Colorado’s code design considered stakeholder input, including interviews and a survey conducted by Headwaters Economics and the University of Colorado Denver.
Need assistance with wildfire?
Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) works with communities to reduce wildfire risk through improved land use planning. The program is a program of Headwaters Economics, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service.
Featured tool:
Austin, TX: Built for wildfire
In 2020, Austin, Texas became a national leader when it comes to reducing the wildfire risk to homes and buildings in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). Watch and let leaders from Austin describe how they came to realize the magnitude of the wildfire threat, and how they brought together diverse interests to pass one of the most forward-looking WUI codes in the U.S.
Recent Wildfire Posts
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Protecting our Past: Wildfire Strategies for Historic Buildings
The loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge to wildfire underscores the urgent need to align historic preservation standards with evidence-based wildfire risk reduction practices. Read more
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The next generation of wildfire risk models must account for the built environment
New research highlights opportunities to improve wildfire risk models that inform planning, building codes, and risk management. Read more
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The path to wildfire-resistant building codes in Colorado offers lessons for other states
Colorado’s code design considered stakeholder input, including interviews and a survey conducted by Headwaters Economics and the University of Colorado Denver. Read more
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Building wildfire-resistant homes after disasters will save billions
Upfront investments in rebuilding to wildfire-resistant standards can save billions in future avoided economic losses. Read more
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Extreme heat is not just an urban threat: The risk to rural communities
Extreme heat poses health risks to millions of rural Americans. Solutions need to be tailored to meet the unique characteristics of rural places. Read more
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Crossover landscaping can enhance wildfire resistance and save water
Crossover landscaping that does double-duty for drought and wildfire resistance is becoming more appealing for communities looking to reduce risk in residential areas. Read more
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America’s urban wildfire crisis: More than 1,100 communities at risk
More than 1,100 communities in 32 states face similar risks to Los Angeles and other places with recent urban wildfires, highlighting the urgent need for wildfire-resistant homes and neighborhoods. Read more
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Community Wildfire Defense Grants benefit rural and low-capacity communities
A Forest Service program is helping communities across the nation reduce wildfire risk—including those that don’t normally have the resources to successfully compete for federal grants. Read more
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Cascading wildfire insurance issues impact local and state budgets
As home insurance in areas with high wildfire risk becomes more expensive and harder to obtain, significant pressure is put on state and local budgets. Read more
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The cost of retrofitting a home for wildfire resistance
Retrofitting a home for wildfire resistance can cost as little as $2,000, making this approach an effective risk reduction strategy for communities. Read more