Fire speed, not size, drives threat to people, infrastructure
New study finds "Fast fires” are getting faster, more dangerous in the Western U.S.
Oct 30, 2024 - by Staff
Fast-growing fires were responsible for nearly 90% of fire-related damages despite being relatively rare in the United States between 2001-2020, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) and involving the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR).
“Fast fires,” which thrust embers into the air ahead of rapidly advancing flames, can ignite homes before emergency responders are able to intervene. The work, published today in Science, shows these fires are getting faster in the Western U.S., increasing the risk for millions of people.
The research highlights a critical gap in hazard preparedness across the U.S. — National-level fire risk assessments do not account for fire speed or provide insight into how people and communities can better prepare for rapid fire growth events.
“We hear a lot about megafires because of their size, but if we want to protect our homes and communities, we really need to appreciate and prepare for how fast fires move," said Jennifer Balch, CIRES fellow, associate professor of Geography, and the lead author of the study. "Speed matters more for keeping people safe.”
The study was co-authored by NSF NCAR scientist Amy DeCastro, who noted that the study highlights the important role modern technology plays in helping us understand environmental change. DeCastro specializes in analyzing satellite-based active fires observations.
"We have loads of data at our fingertips," DeCastro said. "Our wealth of technology and data give us the capacity to make decisions now that will shape what our future looks like. We have the opportunity to use what we've learned to help develop evacuation plans, home-hardening methods, and even land cover transitions between rural and urban spaces to help keep people safe."