Assessing Wildfire Hazards - Calabasas

Assessing Residential Wildfire Hazards is a 1 ½ day course that provides an understanding of these Firewise concepts and techniques for wildland/urban interface coordinators, landscape architects, emergency professionals, urban and state foresters, developers, community planners, insurance professionals and others who will benefit from understanding how to prevent losses from wildfire.

Day 1 involves classroom-style learning which covers the following modules. Day 2 takes the learning to the field where participants will apply their knowledge to conduct home hazard assessments facilitated by the instructor.

MODULE 1 THE WILDFIRE THREAT: PERCEPTIONS VERSUS REALITY: Provides a summary of the major issues that contribute to wildland/urban fire losses in the U.S., the characteristics of Wildland/Urbanareas and the myths of wildfires and their impact on dealing with this issue.

MODULE 2 UNDERSTANDING WILDLAND/URBAN FIRE: Discusses the history, context, and sequence of Wildland/Urban fire disasters, the science and research of how landscape fires ignite homes, advances in reducing wildfire exposure and the characteristics of the Home Ignition Zone (HIZ).

MODULE 3 IDENTIFYING AND MITIGATING WILDFIRE HAZARDS: Identifies the elements that define the Home Ignition Zone. Examination of structural and vegetative wildfire hazards in the HIZ (class exercise) and the social aspects of understanding and applying mitigation actions before wildfire emergencies.

MODULE 4 FIREWISE COMMUNITIES/USA®: FROM RESIDENCES TO COMMUNITIES: Summarizes wildfire mitigation successes and the steps involved in moving from individual residences to the Firewise Communities/USA® Recognition program.