Fire crews are doing their best.
A recent study warns that wildfires in the Western United States are increasingly spreading at alarming rates, often outpacing firefighting efforts. Researchers emphasize that the speed of a fire may pose a greater threat to lives and property than its size.
Jennifer Balch, the lead author and an associate professor of geography at the University of Colorado Boulder, stated, “While there is much focus on megafires due to their scale, understanding and preparing for the rapid movement of fires is crucial for protecting communities.” Balch and her team published their findings on October 24 in the journal Science, highlighting the urgent need to reassess wildfire risk.
The research was prompted by the Marshall Fire, which devastated over 1,000 homes in Boulder County, Colorado, in December 2021. Although it covered only around 6,100 acres, the fire’s rapid spread due to high winds and dry conditions forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents within just an hour. This fire serves as an example of how speed can significantly amplify the danger posed by wildfires.
The study reveals that fast-moving fires, defined as those expanding by more than 4,000 acres per day, have surged by over 250% in the Western U.S. during the past 20 years. These fires accounted for a staggering 88% of all homes destroyed from 2001 to 2020, despite making up less than 3% of the total number of recorded fires. Furthermore, fires that resulted in the loss of 100 or more structures typically expanded at rates exceeding 21,000 acres daily.
Co-author Virginia Iglesias noted that the research shifts the focus of wildfire risk assessment by positioning fire growth rate as a critical factor in determining potential destruction. Given this insight, Balch urges communities to enhance preparedness by reinforcing homes and developing effective evacuation strategies. Currently, wildfire speed is often overlooked in risk assessments by government agencies and insurance companies, yet understanding how quickly a fire spreads is vital for protecting infrastructure and facilitating timely evacuations.
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