Congratulations to Fairfield Plantation in Union County on becoming North Carolina's 24th recognized Firewise Communities USA community!

~December 14, 2011

North Carolina Firewise

The Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI) is defined as the area where homes and communities meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland vegetation. Wildfires that occur in the WUI can be extremely dangerous or destructive to lives and property.

As development has increased in North Carolina over the past few decades, a large number of homes and communities have been built in Wildland/Urban Interface areas, increasing their risk for exposure to wildfire.

While many people think of western states such as California as being particularly prone to wildfire destruction, the problem also exists in North Carolina. In fact, a 2000 study showed that our state ranks number one in the amount of land area that falls inside WUI zones, and 5th in the number of homes (41%) in the WUI. This, taken with the fact that wildfire is a natural part of the state's ecosystems illustrates the danger that many residents live under. It is not a matter of "if" a wildfire will occur, but "when" it will happen. Many NC residents are not aware that they are Living on the Edge of a wildfire disaster.

While structural firefighters, often working in conjunction with the N.C. Forest Service (NCFS), work diligently to suppress WUI wildfires, the simple truth is that very few fire departments have the quantity of resources to protect every home in a WUI area. Even with adequate equipment, the design of many communities makes it extremely difficult for firefighters to safely access threatened homes.

The dangers of the WUI mean that homeowners must take the initiative in working to protect their property and neighborhoods before a wildfire occurs. The North Carolina Firewise and Firewise Communities/USA programs provide information for homeowners, builders, planners, developers and fire officials to help mitigate the risks associated with wildfire in the WUI.