Mapping the South’s Wildfire Threat: New Tools Target Risk and Vulnerability.

A new framework is redefining wildfire risk across the southeastern United States, where fire threats are on the rise due to a combination of environmental and human-driven factors. The increase stems from decades of fire suppression that have led to fuel accumulation in forests, more frequent droughts, and the expansion of residential and infrastructure development into wooded areas. In response, scientists and fire professionals have created updated tools aimed at improving fire preparedness and response in this vulnerable region.

This body of research was created specifically for fire professionals by a collaborative working group consisting of regional experts, researchers, and forest managers. This collaboration ensured that the work directly addressed the practical needs of those managing high-risk communities.

Lars Pomara, a USDA Forest Service researcher who led the project, emphasized the group's role in ensuring the research’s usefulness. “The working group made strong contributions in developing and communicating the science, making sure that we're delivering products that are easy to use and meet the users' needs,” Pomara noted.

One study, led by ORISE researcher Nicholas Gould, involved the compilation of over 70 datasets. These covered a broad range of factors influencing wildfire risk—such as fire behavior, smoke dispersion, social vulnerability, forest structure, climate trends, and land use. Data came from respected institutions including the Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis program, NASA, the CDC, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others.

Using this extensive data, the team created detailed maps outlining wildfire risk to people, infrastructure, and natural resources throughout the Southeast. Importantly, the analysis also incorporated levels of social vulnerability—highlighting how certain populations, like people with disabilities or limited financial means, may face heightened risks during wildfires due to difficulties evacuating or affording displacement costs.

Additionally, this research is unique in its integration of smoke risk. Every forested area in the region was assessed for its potential to send hazardous smoke concentrations to nearby populations, even if the fire remains far from homes or cities.

Another component of the project, led by ORISE researcher Sandhya Nepal, examined how repeated prescribed burns could help mitigate wildfire risk. Prescribed fire—intentional, low-intensity burning—removes accumulated forest floor debris, making large, destructive wildfires less likely.

The analysis found that areas with the highest wildfire risks, including parts of Florida, southeastern Texas, and the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains, also stood to benefit the most from prescribed fire. Interestingly, some regions, like the Ozarks and southern Appalachians, showed lower overall wildfire intensity due to their cooler, wetter climates but still contained heavy fuel loads—making them viable candidates for prescribed burning as a preventative strategy.

To make their findings accessible, researchers developed interactive story maps in partnership with the Texas A&M Forest Service, the Timmons Group, and the Southern Group of State Foresters. These digital tools serve as practical guides for understanding wildfire threats and implementing risk-reducing strategies across the Southeast.

“This is one of the most collaborative projects I’ve been involved with,” said Pomara. “The fact that the work is well-communicated and available beyond academic circles is a credit to our partners.

As wildfire risk grows in the South, this research offers much-needed guidance for proactive fire management tailored to local needs and vulnerabilities.

Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-geography-southern-wildfire.html

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.