Climate change and increased development in areas where wilderness meets urban spaces (called the Wildland-Urban Interface or WUI) have led to greater wildfire risks for buildings and infrastructure. To help communities in these areas be more resilient, researchers studied what factors might help buildings survive wildfires. This study examined the 2019 McKinley fire in Alaska, a region with growing wildfire risks. Unlike many past studies that focused only on environmental or economic factors, this one examined a mix of elements, like types of vegetation around buildings and features of the buildings themselves. Key findings showed that buildings close to others (~100 ft) that burned were more likely to catch fire, especially with intense wildfire exposure. However, having less flammable trees nearby, like certain deciduous types, increased a building’s chance of survival. Buildings on larger properties and those with lower value were more likely to burn, as were buildings with large perimeters or many nearby structures. The study suggests that communities should consider social and environmental factors to reduce wildfire risks effectively.
“The goal of the research was to learn how to build and design growth in a way that reduces the chance for catastrophic consequences from wildfire. With these insights, residents and planners have guidance on how to do this.” said Jennifer Schmidt, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Natural Resources Management and Policy at ISER.
Please see Avoid getting burned: lessons from the McKinley wildfire in rural Alaska, USA & Supplementary Material for the complete article.
