Wildfire risk assessment resources designed for community use are available through federal and national programmes that provide free access to tools, templates, and interactive mapping systems. These resources are intended to help community leaders, planners, and residents understand and mitigate wildfire risks without requiring technical expertise or payment. The primary programmes are managed by United States government agencies, including the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and are designed for use by communities, particularly those in wildland-urban interface areas.
USDA Forest Service: Wildfire Risk to Communities
The USDA Forest Service offers a free, easy-to-use website titled "Wildfire Risk to Communities". This resource was created under the direction of Congress and provides interactive maps, charts, and resources to help communities understand, explore, and reduce wildfire risk. It is designed to serve as a starting point for community leaders, such as elected officials, community planners, and fire managers, to assess and reduce risk to homes, businesses, and other valued resources.
Features and Accessibility
The website is designed so that anyone can access the data, and no technical or mapping skills are required. Its versatility makes it useful for diverse users, including those without a background in geospatial analysis. The platform provides data through interactive maps and charts that show risk to homes, exposure types, wildfire likelihood, and vulnerable populations. In May 2024, the website was updated to provide more precise insights into wildfire risk.
Key functions of the website include: - Identifying where wildfire hazard mitigation and planning efforts are most needed. - Prioritizing mitigation efforts in states or counties with the greatest risk. - Providing resources to help mitigate and manage risk.
This initiative represents the first time wildfire risk to communities has been mapped nationwide. Geospatial and tabular data are available for download to facilitate additional analysis by users who wish to conduct more detailed studies.
Limitations and Disclaimers
Users must be aware of specific limitations regarding the data provided. The data are not locally calibrated and are not fine scale. Consequently, the data are best for considering risk as aggregated across a community rather than at the local, neighbourhood, or individual home scale. The USDA Forest Service explicitly states that users rely on the data at their own risk and need to make their own decisions. The Principal Investigator for this project is Greg Dillon, and the funding contributor is the USDA Forest Service.
Bureau of Indian Affairs: Wildland Fire Risk Assessment Templates
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) provides "Wildland Fire Risk Assessment Templates and Products". These resources are intended for operational risk management and are available for various specific activities and operations.
Available Templates
The BIA provides both completed examples and blank templates to guide users. The completed templates cover a range of high-risk activities, including: - ATV operations - Chainsaw use - Daily physical training - Driving - Helicopter operations - Initial attack - Line construction - Mop-up - Pile burning - Pumps and hoses - Prescribed fire - Warehouse work - Work capacity test
In addition to these completed examples, blank templates are available for general use, including a Blank Risk Assessment Form, a Blank Risk Assessment Worksheet, an ICS 206 Medical Plan Template, and a Risk Assessment Continuation Page. Instructions for using these templates are provided in an Operational Risk Management and Risk Assessment PowerPoint presentation.
Federal Emergency Management Agency: Community Risk Assessment
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides guidance on how to "Assess Community Risk" and become "fire adapted". FEMA recommends creating a written assessment of identified risks using a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)
A CWPP is a strategic tool that helps communities document local risk and create an action plan. It aids everyone in understanding how making improvements to their home and the area around their home can create a more favourable outcome during a wildfire event.
FEMA offers a specific tip for integrating these plans: - Work with your state emergency manager and/or a FEMA region contact to learn how to integrate the CWPP and other plans into an all-hazards mitigation plan.
This approach ensures that wildfire risk mitigation is part of a broader strategy for community safety and resilience against various hazards.
Summary of Available Resources
The available resources for free fire risk assessment are focused on community-level planning and operational safety rather than individual property assessments without context. The USDA Forest Service provides the most accessible tool for general community risk visualisation, while the BIA offers detailed operational templates for specific tasks. FEMA provides the strategic framework for integrating wildfire risk into broader community planning.
These programmes are entirely free of charge and are funded by federal agencies. However, they are primarily designed for community leaders and planners rather than individual homeowners seeking specific property evaluations. The data provided by the USDA Forest Service, while comprehensive at a community level, is not intended for fine-scale analysis of individual properties.
Conclusion
The provided source material is insufficient to produce a 2000-word article. Below is a factual summary based on available data.
Free resources for wildfire risk assessment are available through US federal agencies, specifically the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and FEMA. These resources are designed for community use and include interactive mapping tools (USDA), operational risk assessment templates (BIA), and guidance for creating Community Wildfire Protection Plans (FEMA). These tools are free to access and do not require technical skills, though the USDA data is not fine-scale enough for individual property assessment. The resources are not specific to UK consumers, as they are managed by US government bodies and focus on US communities.