Articles
Methodology, regional deep-dives, and how to read wildfire risk data.
Wildfire risk in the WUI comes from the meeting point between buildings and burnable vegetation. WUI exposure rises when fuels, slope, wind alignment, access limits, and ember pathways place homes within the reach of a spreading fire.
Defensible space changes property-level wildfire risk by reducing burnable material and ember ignition paths near the structure. The local wildfire score describes area exposure, while defensible space affects how a specific building may perform during an event.
County wildfire maps miss neighborhood exposure when they smooth over fuel breaks, slope changes, WUI edges, recent burn scars, and local access conditions. Neighborhood-scale scoring gives a more useful comparison for nearby communities and ZIPs.
A wildfire risk score summarizes long-run local exposure to fire spread conditions on a 0 to 10 scale. Read it with fuel, slope, aspect, weather stress, WUI context, and building-level vulnerability because ember exposure can change sharply across nearby parcels.
Fuel, slope, and wind shape wildfire spread because they control what can burn, how quickly flames move uphill, and where embers or flame fronts travel. Local wildfire scores need all three because each one can change within a short distance.
The scores on this site show the representative wildfire layer for a local area. Enter a street address to add building age, construction type, roof details, occupancy, surroundings, and property-level context.
Free results for any US street address.