Climate impacts are here. In the past year 2021, the mega-disasters created the tragic, but predictable catastrophic wildfire events, impacting hundreds of thousands of Americans in the western United States. Multiple studies have found that climate change has already led to an increase in wildfire season length, wildfire frequency, and burned area. More Importantly, climate change threatens to increase the frequency, extent, and severity of fires through increased temperatures and drought in the western United States. As the wildfire “new normal” evolves, should the existing land use management change with it? Wildfire risks could influence the existing and future land use developments through land use and fire managements. With increased land use intensity (especially increased housing density) may results in an increased demand for fire management in local and state planning agencies. As we move forward with elevated wildfire risks due to climate change and other factors, are we heading in the right directions? What level of analysis is adequate to assess wildfire hazards and risk, which ultimately help determine the potential impact in the communities? What data sets are appropriate to evaluate in determining a climate wildfire risk exposure? This presentation brings together the issues with fire protection and land use planning, and provides the needed updates to keep up with our new normal.
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