Wildland Urban Interface

Photo Credit: Carl Schwope/USFWS

As America’s population increases, cities and suburbs are expanding and encroaching into what was once undeveloped and rural lands.  This area where development, both residential and commercial, comes into close proximity with undeveloped or wildand areas, is called the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI.)  Development within the WUI can lead to the increased risk to life and property by wildfire.

The Fire Management program at Balcones Canyonlands NWR has helped mitigate these risks by first identifying those areas on or adjacent to Refuge lands that could be threatened by wildland fire, then implementing further mitigation efforts such as wildland fire prevention and awareness education, Firewise education, and fuels reduction projects such as thinning and prescribed burning.  Through the use of these strategies, the staff at Balcones Canyonlands NWR has helped lessen the impact of wildland fire within the WUI.

Defensible space clearing within subdivision- Before and After

Photo Credit: Eric Krueger/USFWS

If you would like more information concerning Wildland Urban Interface, please go to the following websites:

http://www.tamu.edu/ticc

http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/default.aspx

http://www.firewise.org

http://www.nfpa.org

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov

http://www.nwcg.gov