Wildland Urban Interface
                                                       Definition

Urban Interface (Wildland Urban Interface):  The line, area, or zone where structures and other
human development meet ot intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels.


                                             
The Wildland Urban Interface Issues

More and more people are leaving the cities ans cleanly laid out subdivisions for the more natural setting "in the country."  While this is the envy of many homeowners, this movement back to the country creates many new problems for homeowners and firefighters. 

Some of the issues facing today's Urban Interface dwellers include:

- Lack of awareness of how the vegetation on their property will burn and how it will react during a
   fire.
- A misunderstanding that there can be a significant fire danger even when "it looks so green" and
  "we had a wet winter."
- Miscalculating the proability of a fire, and if one happens, how long it will take for the fire
   department to reach the location.
- Most property owners are unfamiliar with the problems faced by firefighters in a Wildland fire
   enviroment.
- The false belief that the "natural look" of wood siding and wood shingles out weigh the risks of
   using these items on their homes.
- The increased risk of fire reaching a home positioned on a ridge overlooking "the best view in the
   area, but the view from the overhanging deck is even more incredible."  You feel like you're living
   in the trees.
- The lack of accessibilty to the property; "The drivewway makes the house seem so private, the
   turns and overhanging trees block out all the views from the road."
- The fact that many local homeowner associations may discourage cutting vegetation with the
   intent of protecting everyones privacy and keeping a cpmpletely natural setting.  What these
   associations fail to understand is that fire is common in the natural setting.  Fire is natures way
   of cleaning the forest.

The urban interface dweller needs to know the dangers of a wildland fire in their communities.  Ask
your local fire department of they will conduct a survey for your property.  Most fire departments
will welcome the opportunity to discuss the Urban Interface issues with you and make
recommendations that will increase the saftey of your family and property.

Listed below are eight major reasons that property is lost or damaged in a wildland fire:

- Limited Water Supply
- Property is located in a heavy fuel bed
- Poor access for fire vehicles due to sharp turns, steep slopes, property located at the end of a
  long dead end street or cul-de-sac
- Wood Construction
- Wood Shingle roof
- Flammable vegetation not seperated from the buildings
- Structures built on a steep slope, at the head of a box canyon or on a narrow ridgeline with
  vegetation below the property.
- Decks overhanging steep slopes.

If your are asked to evacuate your property during a wildland fire, do so immediately.  The longer
you delay, the more risk you place on the safety of you and your family, not to mention the safety
of the firefighters battling the fire.

The wildland firefighters will do all they can to stop the fire spread and save as much property
as possible.
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