Record Details

Rebuilding and new housing development after wildfire

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

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Title Rebuilding and new housing development after wildfire
Names Alexandre, Patricia M. (creator)
Mockrin, Miranda H. (creator)
Stewart, Susan I. (creator)
Hammer, Roger B. (creator)
Radeloff, Volker C. (creator)
Date Issued 2014-12-08 (iso8601)
Note To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by CSIRO Publishing and can be found at: http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/114.htm.
Abstract The number of wildland–urban interface communities affected by wildfire is increasing, and both wildfire
suppression and losses are costly. However, little is known about post-wildfire response by homeowners and communities
after buildings are lost. Our goal was to characterise rebuilding and new development after wildfires across the
conterminous United States. We analysed all wildfires in the conterminous USA from 2000 to 2005. We mapped
42,724 buildings, of which 34,836 were present before the fire and survived, 3,604 were burned, 2,403 were post-fire new
development, and 1,881 were burned and rebuilt. Before the fires, 38,440 buildings were present within fire perimeters
(surviving plus burned). Within 5 years post-fire, there were 39,120 buildings (surviving, rebuilt and new development).
Nationally, only 25% of burned homes were rebuilt within 5 years, though rates were higher in the west, the south and
Kansas. New development rates inside versus outside fire perimeters were similar. That the number of buildings inside fire
perimeters within 5 years post-fire was greater than pre-fire indicated that homeowners are either willing to face wildfire
risks or are unaware of them; or that economic incentives to rebuild in the same place outweigh perceived risks.
Genre Article
Topic building digitalisation
Identifier Alexandre, P. M., Mockrin, M. H., Stewart, S. I., Hammer, R. B., & Radeloff, V. C. (2014). Rebuilding and new housing development after wildfire. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 24(1), 138-149. doi:10.1071/WF13197

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