A CoreLogic company report Wildfire Hazard Risk finds that among 13 Western states, there are 740,000 residences at high or very high risk for wildfire damage. Their property values exceed 136 billion dollars. These average $184,000. Among these, 168,000 are in the Very High Risk category, and are valued at more than $32 billion. If risks from neighboring areas are included, 900,000 residences are at very high risk and with a combined property value of $161 billion.
California contains 49,000 homes at Very High Risk.
Los Angeles contains 29,000 at High Risk or Very High Risk, with a value estimated to be at $10 billion. These average $340,000. The most expensive risk is in the Malibu zip code, valued at $900 million.
The zone of risk is called the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). This is taken as extending a mile and a half from wildland, since blowing embers can extend that far. About 40% of US homes are located in that zone, and 58% of homes built in the last two decades were built in that zone. This is especially dangerous as sparks can carry fire long distances. A lot of flammable brush has been built up over years of fire suppression. Also, we are suffering droughts and a burden of dead trees from pine bark beetles. (Some argue that barren trees from pine bark beetles are less a risk, since they no longer have the pine needles that can travel large distances in a fire). Sequestration has also cut firefighting funding and national guard availability. Many western states are also government regulation averse, and there are not zoning laws for brush clearance or dead tree removal. There is also an unwillingness of WUI residences to accept the costs of firefighting, expecting others in the state or federal government to pay for firefighting and for covering their losses.
The NY Times cites a University of Wisconsin SILVIS lab study that shows that 99 million people live in 44 million homes in the WUI. This site also has a detailed map of the California risk areas.
In a time when the costs of firefighting impinge on state budgets, and the human costs are being examined, we have to ask why more responsibility is not being urged on residents of such areas, especially those that just have second homes there. In recent fires, one notes that the main thing that is burning are the wood structures, and not the trees themselves.
