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Commentary

Identifying Communities at Risk to Wildfire

Authored by Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D. on May 26, 2016

As land agencies and residents across the country are preparing for the next wildfire season, a new interactive mapping tool developed by Headwaters Economics identifies communities at risk by wildfires from 2000 to 2014.

featured-image-dataviz-communities-wildfire-threat

The interactive map allows users to identify the location, scale, and frequency of wildfire threats to their communities.

Unseasonably warm temperatures and ongoing drought suggest many places, particularly in the American West, are adversely exposed to wildfires in the coming months.

The map interactive identifies where and when wildfires have occurred, which can aid in prioritizing wildfire threats, directing resources, and enhancing community planning capacities. The map also shows the different sizes of wildfires and distances from nearby communities.

Users can select criteria such as the size or number of nearby wildfires to filter the display of qualifying communities.

In addition, a pop-up window for each community provides additional information on the size, frequency, and year of wildfire events.

For example, in setting the criteria to more than five moderately sized wildfires burning within two miles of the community boundary, 10 communities are highlighted including Reno (NV), Boise (ID), and Moreno Valley (CA).

If local governments are interested, Headwaters Economics also is working with Wildfire Planning International to provide Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW).

Communities can apply for a CPAW assistance grant to help reduce wildfire risk within the wildland-urban interface through improved land use planning.

Methods and Measuring Communities at Risk

Headwaters Economics also created a sortable data table that identifies frequently threatened towns and cities, including the different sizes and distances of wildfires from nearby communities.

Data on wildfire histories was collected from the Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group (GeoMAC) and distances were measured using Census Designated Place boundaries.

Related Visualization

Related data visualizationDataViz

Resources

Communities at Risk Sortable Data Table

Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW)

Wildfire Case Studies: Planning to Reduce Risk

Wildfire Summary Slideshow Presentation

Solutions Journal: Resolving Wildfire Risk

Published on May 26, 2016Posted under Homes & RiskTags: Homes & Risk
Dr. Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D.

Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D.

  kimi@headwaterseconomics.org       406.224.1837

Kimi conducts wildfire research and manages Headwaters Economics’ Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire program. She has worked with more than 80 communities across the country to reduce wildfire risk and increase community resiliency.

Related Research

Land Use Planning to Reduce Wildfire Risk
Communities Threatened by Wildfire, 2000-2017
Communities Threatened by Wildfires, 2000-2017
Summary: Wildfire Costs, New Development, and Rising Temperatures

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