New Approach To Urban Interface Suggested
As fires continue to burn in Wyoming and throughout the West, some researchers are suggesting that thinking about fires in the same way we think about floods could be beneficial. Just as there are floodplains near rivers, some areas they say should be viewed as “fire plains” for their wildfire risks. The idea is to either limit development in those areas, or make sure the urban interface is accomplished in the safest possible way. The idea was proposed at a U-S Senate hearing Wednesday in Colorado Springs. Dr. Tony Cheng with the Forest Restoration Institute explains it’s a question of exposure for those who will inevitably build there. The concept of a “fire plain” originated in Texas where range fires have recently caused millions of dollars in property damage.
