Coexisting with fire

Question 1

Wildland urban interface (WUI)

Answer 1

Area where homes and wildlands meet; significant area for wildfire impact and management

Question 2

Spatial WUI

Answer 2

• Classic Interface is an area of urban sprawl where subdivisions and other development press against natural areas
• Isolated interface is an area where isolated structures are surrounded by large areas of vegetation
• Wildland-Urban Interface islands are pockets of isolated natural areas within cities and/or surrounded by urban areas

Question 3

Fire WUI

Answer 3

A zone where structures are located in or adjacent to areas prone to wildfire

Question 4

Sociopolitical WUI

Answer 4

• Diverse public attitudes and perceptions: different age/ethnic groups, new and long term residents may differ in how they use and value natural resources
• Economic and taxation issues: property taxes increase in developing areas, affecting ability o forest landowners to manage/retain forests → heirs are sometimes forced to subdivide or sell family land to pay estate taxes
• Land-use planning and policy: lack of effective growth management, no common approach across jurisdictional boundaries, regulation of forest practices increases with urbanization

Question 5

Natural resource WUI

Answer 5

An area where increased human influence and land conversion are changing natural resource goods, services, and management

Question 6

Stakeholders of WUI

Answer 6

• Local citizens and homeowners
• Public land managers
• Fire departments
• Local governments
• Business owners (real estate companies, insurance companies, utilities companies)

Question 7

Wildfire preparation (Ready, Set, Go)

Answer 7

1. Hardening homes and creating defensible (survivable) space
2. Preparing for an evacuation
3. Following evacuation plan and checklist to evacuate quickly and early

Question 8

Get ready examples

Answer 8

Hardening homes

Fire risk reduction:
- Choose a low risk home site for new construction; understand risks for existing homes
- Harden home with appropriate fire safe building designs and structural material (wildfires can ignite a home by flying embers, direct flames, or radiant heat)

Understand your location:
- Be aware of how fire will behave on topography around your home
- Homes located in steep and narrow canyons or ridges are also vulnerable to radiating heat from fire

Question 9

Get set examples

Question 10

Go examples

Question 11

Backfires

Answer 11

Fighting fire with fire