Wildland Urban Interface
Wildland Urban Interface
Wildland urban interace is roughly defined as the zone where natural areas and development meet. The wildland urban interface (WUI) has gained increasing importance as more Americans build homes in rural settings adjacent to public lands. Since the development and implementation of the National Fire Plan, there has been a marked increase in reduction of hazardous fuels in the WUI on the edge of federal lands.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) works closing with neighboring communities to reduce future wildfire risks to homes near national wildlife refuges and other FWS lands. Homeowner responsibility for maintaining property according to fire safety standards is essential to effectively protecting communities from catastrophic wildfire.
Fuels reduction in the WUI focuses on high-risk communities and adjacent natural resources that are inherently important to social and/or economic stability. These projects increase public and firefighter safety, reduce risk of unwanted fire, protect recreational opportunities on Service lands, strengthen rural economies, and increase public understanding of fire management.
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Read Fire News stories about the Wildland Urban Interface: | |
Hazardous Fuels Reduction at NASA | |
San Francisco WUI Project Helps Refuge Neighbors |