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
Additional benefits of wildfire-resistant homes
An analysis of wildfire-resistant home upgrades shows that they can also deliver energy savings, lower maintenance costs, and a longer-lasting home.
Local funding options for disaster resilience
Projects that prepare communities to resist wildfire and flooding can save money in the long run, but they can be hard to finance upfront. Headwaters Economics has created two guides to help local leaders identify sustained funding strategies for resilience projects.
Lessons from 30 years of wildfire ignition data
Human activity sparks most U.S. wildfires. A newly updated Forest Service dataset maps exactly where, when, and how people are responsible for wildfire ignitions. The insights arm researchers, emergency planners and mitigation experts with information they need to target prevention efforts.
Tracking Western states’ diverse approaches to wildfire building codes
More states in the West are considering new building codes to protect structures and neighborhoods from wildfire. We’re tracking the progress.
Wildfire and insurance options for homeowner coverage
In the face of increasing wildfire disasters several strategies could play a role in reducing damages and stabilizing homeowners insurance markets.
Construction costs for wildfire-resistant homes
A new analysis shows that building wildfire-resistant homes adds less than 3% to construction costs.
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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Additional benefits of wildfire-resistant homes
An analysis of wildfire-resistant home upgrades shows that they can also deliver energy savings, lower maintenance costs, and a longer-lasting home. Read more
-
Local funding options for disaster resilience
Projects that prepare communities to resist wildfire and flooding can save money in the long run, but they can be hard to finance upfront. Headwaters Economics has created two guides to help local leaders identify sustained funding strategies for resilience projects. Read more
-
Lessons from 30 years of wildfire ignition data
Human activity sparks most U.S. wildfires. A newly updated Forest Service dataset maps exactly where, when, and how people are responsible for wildfire ignitions. The insights arm researchers, emergency planners and mitigation experts with information they need to target prevention efforts. Read more
-
Tracking Western states’ diverse approaches to wildfire building codes
More states in the West are considering new building codes to protect structures and neighborhoods from wildfire. We’re tracking the progress. Read more
-
Community Wildfire Defense Grants fill a critical gap for rural communities
High demand for the CWDG program demonstrates the need for wildfire risk reduction support in high-risk, low-income communities. Read more
-
Wildfire and insurance options for homeowner coverage
In the face of increasing wildfire disasters several strategies could play a role in reducing damages and stabilizing homeowners insurance markets. Read more
-
Construction costs for wildfire-resistant homes
A new analysis shows that building wildfire-resistant homes adds less than 3% to construction costs. Read more
-
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
-
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
-
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