Wildfire and development : why stronger links to land-use planning are needed to save lives, protect property, and minimize economic risk

Abstract

Exploding growth along the Colorado Front Range has expanded the wildland-urban interface-the area where homes and vegetation mix. This area, known as the WUI, is at high risk of wildfires. Wildfire risk is based on both natural conditions, such as invasive species and climate change, and human development decisions that allow continued growth in fire-prone areas. This thesis examines the approaches to wildfire risk mitigation taken by six counties along the Front Range. I argue that these mitigation approaches are effective but do not tackle important aspects of the wildfire problem, including who pays and how risks continue to increase. Counties should minimize development in the WUI by adopting strong policies that incorporate the full costs of fire protection into local jurisdictional budgets and address growth management in the WUI. This requires a greater incorporation of the land-use planning process into decisions that put people and property at risk to wildfire.