we have studies that show that increased vege-
tation cover adjacent to, and over a home's roof,
increases the risk of building ignition, which have
led to recommendations and practices regarding
plant selection, flammability, maintenance, and
spacing around homes (i.e., defensible space).
However, there are few studies documenting the
role of urban trees, shrubs, and grass character-
istics in either increasing or decreasing building
ignition and loss. Researchers at the USFS-PSW
are currently studying some of these issues such
as plant flammability characteristics of urban
tree and shrub species as well as the role of tree-
shrub types, moisture, and vegetation structure
on building loss during urban fires events.
As urban fire events increasingly affect more densely
built, higher populated areas, "FireWise" or fuel
mitigation practices are often difficult to implement.
Many of these practices were designed in more rural
contexts with low populations and less building den-
sities where properties are larger in size, vegetation
is more natural and endemic to the area, species
diversity is low, and there are a few landowners—
the very opposite of conditions we are facing.
Future direction
Recent investments through the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law, the Wildfire Crisis strategy, and
the Inflation Reduction Act are addressing the need
for more information on the role of fire in >>
ucfsociety.org 25
Post-fire image from Ventura, California, where
preliminary findings show that lost urban tree cover
rapidly recovered in the years following the fire.
