Assessing wildfire hazards in the home ignition zone

Assessing wildfire hazards in the home ignition zone is a 2-day workshop, which covers the myths of wildland/urban interface fire, the history and context of W/UI fire disasters, sequential elements of a W/UI fire disaster, research and case studies, risk factors in the home ignition zone, information needed to conduct an assessment, the general health of the ecosystem, inspecting the home ignition zone, accessibility in case of a wildfire emergency, documenting an assessment, and much more. This workshop also includes Q & A, class discussion, and three classroom exercises where participants will perform home ignition zone evaluations, practicing the information they have learned.

This workshop is designed to help further the understanding that disasters during wildfires occur when homes ignite, and that proactive steps can be taken in construction, design, landscaping and maintenance to significantly reduce the likelihood of home ignition. Participants are taught about wildfire behavior and fire science, the ethics of assessment on private land, and how to help residents understand risk and take mitigation action.