Abstract
Coexisting with Wildfire in a Warming World
Wildfire processes are being changed significantly by the expansion of human development into the fire-prone Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). This increases the risk of human exposure to wildfire. As expansion in the fire-prone WUI continues, there is a need for a more comprehensive understanding of the spatio-temporal dynamics between development and wildfire processes in this social-ecological system. To address this, my research seeks to produce a remotely sensed product to map development in the WUI across the Snake River Plain, Southern Idaho, at a finer spatial scale than is currently available. Concurrently, I will use social science research methods to evaluate what factors influence the adoption of fire management strategies that could mediate human exposure and vulnerability to wildfire hazards in this area. The overarching goal of this project is to decrease future human exposure and vulnerability to wildfire in the WUI and inform decision-making for wildfire hazard adaption and prevention.