In the last decade, wildfires continue to increase, be more catastrophic, destroy more forests and structures, and increasingly encroach on human areas. It is critical for states and localities to adopt and comply with building codes that are developed for the safeguarding of life and property in WUI zones.
What is contributing to the severity of wildfire today?
The intensity and frequency of recent wildfires has been exasperated by issues including climate change and unhealthy forest management practices. Unmanaged and improperly managed forests can lead to overgrowth of fuel and underbrush leading to more severe and harder to manage fires. These wildfires not only threaten WUI zones where people live and work but are also destroying forests.
When managed responsibly, working forests ensure long term sustainability of our renewable timber resources, support healthy local forest ecosystems and help limit disease and wildfire destruction of our forest land. Working forests are managed for tree, soil, ecosystem and wildlife health, which includes prescribed burns, thinning and fuel mitigation — all of which are known to help prevent catastrophic wildfires.
What is the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI)?
The Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) is the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development. It is the area or zone where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with wildland or vegetative fuels that are a fire hazard associated with the built environment.
What is a WUI code?
A Wildland-Urban Interface Code, or WUI Code, establishes the minimum requirements for the safeguarding of life and property from the hazards of wildfire in designated WUI areas. These provisions apply to land use – such as defensible space and vegetation management requirements – as well as the built environment – such as outlining methods of construction for exterior wildfire exposure.
WUI codes, like the International Code Council’s International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) and Part 7 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations (formerly referred to as Chapter 7a), are designed to address specific fire and ignition risks associated within WUI zones. They include provisions for home hardening that are often focused on reducing building vulnerabilities to embers and direct flame impingement. They include requirements related to exterior building elements including walls, roofs, eaves, vents, windows, vegetation management, and more. These codes, when used along with local fire and building codes, can mitigate the risks and potential damage posed by wildfire in WUI zones.