suburbanization of the fire terrain: a planner’s perspective rick brady, aicp
TRANSCRIPT
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Suburbanization of the Fire Terrain: A Planner’s Perspective
Rick Brady, AICP
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Suburbanization of the Fire Terrain
Hazard Mitigation Response
Case Studies
Sustainability Considerations
A Planner’s Perspective
Overview
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History of Suburbanization
Building Suburbia: Greenfields and Urban Growth, 1820-2000 (Dolores Hayden)
Suburbanization of the Fire Terrain
Sprawl: A Compact History (Robert Bruegmann)
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Suburbanization of the Fire Terrain
CA Population:
15 million in 1960
30 million in 1990
33 million in 2008
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Suburbanization of the Fire Terrain
Result: Expansion of the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI)
Place where “the leaves meet the eaves.”
Protecting life and property major challenge
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Suburbanization of the Fire Terrain
Unintended Consequence: Catastrophic Loss from Wildfire
California
1960s: 2,000+ homes burned
Large wildfires in 1970, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1994 through 1999, 2003, and 2007
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Suburbanization of the Fire Terrain
Unintended Consequence: Catastrophic Loss from Wildfire San Diego County
2003 Cedar Fire: 16 dead, 383,000 acres burned, 2,722 homes lost, ~$1 billion damage
2007 Fires : 10 dead, 369,000 acres burned, 1,600 homes lost, ~$1.5 billion damage
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Hazard Mitigation Planning
General Plan Safety Elements
Hazard Mitigation Response
Defensible Space Codes
Requirement increased 30-ft to 100-ft
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Urban-Wildland Interface Codes
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FEMA funded / State administration
City applied post Cedar Fire (2003)
$2.3 mil supplement for $3.9 mil from City General Fund
679 acres, 6,400 at-risk homes
Awarded, but not funded to date
City of San Diego Brush Management
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Shelter In Place Strategies
Origins in Australia
Safe to stay in home, if evacuation is not a safe option.
Setting bar for newer sprawling subdivisions in the WUI.
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Shelter In Place Critics
False sense of security
Exposure to smoke unavoidable
Rationalizes further expansion into the WUI
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Case Studies
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Case Studies
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Fanita Ranch
130-ft Defensible Space
Wildland Access
Emergency Access
Ignition Resistant Construction
Sprinklers
Fire Station
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Sustainability Considerations
Environment Direct Impacts: More defensible space = more habitat take
Indirect Impacts: Suburbanization = VMT = GHG = Climate Change & Drought = Increased Fire Hazards
Economy Damages in the billions $$.
WUI expansion stresses under-funded local and state agencies.
Equity De-facto income segregation
Tax payer burden
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A Planner’s Perspective
Increased exposure to wildfire hazards is an unintended consequence of suburbanization of the fire terrain
Comprehensive regional approach to planning and the WUI that emphasizes sustainability is ideal
Suburbanization of the fire terrain continues
If inevitable, safer building practices should be encouraged
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