Latest news with #WUI
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Public water systems not designed to handle wildfires': BYU professor warns of potential dangers
PROVO, Utah () — With persisting dry conditions and increasing wildfire risk, a Brigham Young University (BYU) professor , and residents need to be more mindful about conserving water and using their fire sense. 'A fire hydrant is not an unlimited supply of water; it's just the most visible endpoint of a largely hidden system whose main purpose is to provide reliable drinking water every day, not extinguish a wildfire,' Professor Rob Sowby who teaches and studies environmental engineering, urban water infrastructure and sustainability at BYU, told , Fire departments across the country are increasingly being called upon to respond to Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) fires, including brush, grass, forest fires, or other outdoor fires. This is one of the most dangerous and complicated situations firefighters face. According to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, and intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels. Utah has over 700 '' within or near the WUI. Sowby says such interfaces often have dense vegetation, which increases fire risks or limits emergency response. 'Water systems serving residential areas are designed to supply fire flows of about 1,500 gallons per minute. That might be one or two open fire hydrants. Larger buildings like offices and warehouses require more, perhaps 4,000 gallons per minute,' Sowby noted. 'But any fire flow is an extreme case that can be sustained only for a few hours. In the Palisades fire, where 11 million gallons of stored water drained in half a day, the flow was about 15,000 gallons per minute— 10 times the typical residential fire flow.' This indicates that water systems that people assume can save us from a disaster were never meant for such a task. As of August 2024, were used to help fight about 961 fires across the state. has reached out to the Division of Natural Resources to get the total amount of water used in 2024 to fight wildfires. During the Palisades Fire in California, officials that had diminished water pressure and, in some cases, no water at all. 'Maybe the public has developed this expectation that the water system will save them from wildfire damage, but that's not what public water systems were meant to do. It's a shared responsibility for the water system to meet its designed capacity but also help educate customers and residents about limitations…it's a shared responsibility among all stakeholders in the community,' Sowby said. According to , there are about 431 fires in Utah so far this year, of which 327 are human-caused. Officials say , using fire-resistant landscaping, and practicing safe fire behavior is key to preventing human-caused wildfires. How to prepare your home for drier weather, fire season 'In a changing climate, conditions may be hotter and drier than in the past, drying out vegetation that is ready to ignite,' Sowby cautioned. Governor Spencer Cox (R-Utah) and reduce their fire risk. He has also in 17 counties and issued recommendations on conserving water throughout the state. Since 2000, Utah's population has increased by almost 48% and is projected to increase by another 49% by 2050. Officials are urging residents to use their fire sense and adopt landscaping with native plants instead of turf. Utah Food Bank fills the gap of food insecurity for Utah's children – no questions asked Monsoonal moisture is on the move through Utah for the midweek House GOP leaders scrambling to rally holdouts behind Trump megabill 23-year-old Motorcyclist killed in American Fork crash Clearfield City urges residents to conserve outdoor water use overnight Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
14-06-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
How Architects Help After a Wildfire and How to Find the Right One
When wildfires destroy a home, hiring an architect may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it can make a big difference in how safely, affordably, and quickly the rebuilding process takes. 'One of the very first things an architect is going to do is to try and find that high-level alignment between, what someone wants to build and what they are able to finance,' Jessica Orlando, a licensed architect and Vice President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Pasadena & Foothill Chapter said. 'Selfishly, I wish that folks were more aware of architects and what benefit we can bring to the process.' Orlando has been working directly with wildfire survivors through the Pasadena & Foothill Chapter's 'Ask an Architect' program, which offers free guidance to homeowners navigating an unfamiliar system. 'We see it as part of our core mission to support the communities that we live and work in,' Orlando said. 'We understand that most folks have never done this before, and they don't know what to look for.' Orlando said it's important for people to understand what architects do and to include them on their rebuilding teams, as they can be a trusted partner and help homeowners make informed decisions that best fit their situations. 'Architects are really meant to be there for [wildfire survivors] to help with this overwhelming amount of information,' Orlando said. 'It can be really daunting to try and assess what the right option is,' she added. Architects act as guides during the rebuilding process. A significant part of their contribution comes in the design and permitting phase, but they can also vet contractors, review pricing estimates, and make sure that fire-resistant materials are efficiently incorporated into rebuilds. 'Their primary goal is really to advocate for the owner,' Orlando said. While architects are not legally required to rebuild a single-family home in California, they play a key role in helping homeowners meet the state's strict fire-resistance standards. In high-risk areas, homes must comply with Chapter 7A of the California Building Code and follow Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) regulations. Architects help interpret these complex requirements, navigate local laws and insurance limitations, and design for defensible space around the home. 'They will be best positioned to design what we call a resilient home for you,' Orlando said. 'There are specific kinds of strategies and materials that can be used to help safeguard your future home against a future wildfire or other natural disaster.' Their expertise also helps coordinate surveyors, engineers, and energy consultants, which reduces the risk of design flaws or costly delays. In unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, eligible homeowners may also benefit from the Building Plan Check Self-Certification Pilot Program. Licensed architects who meet specific criteria can expedite the permit process by certifying that their plans comply with all code requirements, enabling them to bypass traditional plan reviews and begin rebuilding sooner. Some homeowners prefer to work directly with a contractor after a fire, especially if they're focused on getting the rebuild started quickly. But architects and contractors serve different roles, and skipping the design side can create complications later and may even slow you down. '[Architects] will work directly with your contractor to resolve any issues that may arise during construction,' Orlando said. 'It's really their job to help shepherd the delivery to success.' Contractors are responsible for building the home according to the plans. Architects are laser-focused on ensuring that those plans are designed to code, reflect your goals, and can be permitted efficiently. Orlando said some homeowners who go straight to contractors may not realize they're losing flexibility in the design and long-term control over their budget. 'There are some really great, reputable contractors out there… but we just want to make sure that folks understand the limitations of that system,' she said. Orlando emphasized that a good architect doesn't replace your contractor — they help guide and support the process from the beginning of the design through final construction. This also applies to homeowners using modular or prefabricated homes. While prefab manufacturers typically provide state-approved designs, a licensed architect can still assist with site-specific planning, zoning compliance, or adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) that may be used as a smaller shelter during construction. Here are some key tips to consider when selecting an architect to partner with for your building project. Make sure they're licensed Only architects licensed by the California Architects Board are legally allowed to call themselves 'architects.' Orlando noted that some people use the title without being licensed, which is illegal in California. Homeowners can verify the credentials of individual architects by visiting the California Architect Board's website. Orlando said AIA members have also committed to a code of ethics and are required to complete continuing education. Architects who are members of the national organization may have more knowledge to help with wildfire recovery. 'If an architect is an AIA member, it's kind of just that extra gold star for someone to showcase they are a very committed member of the profession,' Orlando said. Bring in an Architect Early 'We definitely feel that it's best if you hire an architect sooner rather than later,' Orlando said. While many homeowners wait until their insurance claim is finalized, Orlando explained that architects can help interpret what a settlement will actually buy and help shape your design to match your budget. 'So, you know, if you get a half-million-dollar payout… how much space can you build for that dollar value? They can help provide guidance on budget management and just the scope and scale of what you can rebuild.' Understand the fee and expectations Orlando acknowledged that many people assume architects are expensive, but the cost also includes a better peace of mind. She said architect fees typically range from 5% to 12% of your rebuild budget, depending on the level of service. Some architects stop after producing permit-ready plans and design services. Others stay on through construction. Orlando encourages homeowners to get at least three proposals and review what each one includes, so 'you can compare what each architect or designer is offering and make sure that they're apples to apples.' She also said many architects in the Los Angeles area are sympathetic to the wildfire survivors and want to ease their recovery. 'If you reach out to an architect, let them know that you were impacted by the fires. They may offer you a discount,' Orlando advised. However, it's not just about the cost being too high when considering fees and agreements with an architect. Orlando said people should steer clear of architects who have contracts with no plan revisions, unclear responsibilities, or who offer limited support during construction. 'We're seeing very cheap proposals that do not include what we would consider to be kind of basic services for folks,' Orlando said. Wildfire recovery is a complex process, and hiring all these professionals can feel overwhelming, especially when time and money are tight. To make sure you are using people who are not trying to take advantage of your vulnerability with a substandard proposal or services, the AIA's Pasadena Foothill chapter has created the 'Ask an Architect' program for wildfire survivors. 'It's a free public service that we're offering right now, where we will conduct one-on-one consultations with folks,' Orlando said. The 'Ask an Architect' program is a volunteer-led effort that connects homeowners impacted by the January 2025 wildfires with licensed architects. It does not provide design services, but it can help answer high-level questions about your situation and what the process might look like if you decide to rebuild. The volunteers will be able to flag if the proposals 'don't have what we at the AIA, would consider to be a minimum scope of services,' Orlando said. Even if you're not ready to rebuild or have already engaged a contractor, a short conversation could help you understand your options. To learn more or request a consultation, visit or email wildfiresupport@
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BrandGuard Vents Launches Financing Program to Make Wildfire Protection Accessible Starting at Just $54/Month
New initiative breaks down financial barriers for homeowners seeking to safeguard their families, homes and communities from wildfires LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BrandGuard Vents, a trusted leader in ember-resistant venting solutions, proudly announces a new financing program designed to make essential wildfire protection more accessible for homeowners across wildfire-prone regions. Through this program, qualifying homeowners can now retrofit their homes with BrandGuard's cutting-edge vent systems for as little as $54 per month, subject to credit approval. This initiative is more than a financial offering—it's a mission to ensure that wildfire safety is not a privilege, but a reachable reality for all. As wildfires increase in frequency and severity, especially in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and moderate-risk zones, BrandGuard's financing program provides a timely and crucial lifeline for families looking to protect what matters most. "For too many families, the cost of safeguarding their home has been out of reach," said Kelly Berkompas, Co-Founder of BrandGuard Vents. "We're changing that. By removing financial obstacles, we're making it possible for more people to take proactive steps toward safety—because everyone deserves protection, no matter their budget." BrandGuard Vents are expertly engineered to prevent dangerous embers and flames from entering attics and crawl spaces—vulnerable points during a wildfire. As states like California face prolonged fire seasons, home hardening has become a critical tool in community resilience. Unfortunately, many residents lack the resources to implement upgrades on their own. By introducing this financing option, BrandGuard empowers homeowners to take immediate, affordable action to protect not only their homes, but also their neighbors and local environments. The program aligns with guidance from Wildfire Prepared Home, CAL FIRE, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), insurance companies and other authorities advocating for ember-resistant vents as part of a comprehensive defense strategy. To learn more about how BrandGuard Vents is making wildfire protection more equitable and attainable, visit About BrandGuard Vents BrandGuard Vents is the nation's premier manufacturer of ember- and flame-resistant vents designed to defend homes in wildfire-vulnerable areas. Founded by firefighters and wildfire safety experts, BrandGuard products are WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) compliant and trusted by homeowners, contractors, and insurers nationwide. Media ContactInterdependence Public Relations395564@ View original content: SOURCE BrandGuard Vents Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fountain Fire hosts town hall to discuss mitigation
(FOUNTAIN, Colo.) — The Fountain Fire Department (FFD) hosted a town hall on Thursday evening, May 8, to discuss the City's wildland mitigation efforts. According to FFD, the goal of the town hall was to educate and foster discussion around wildland fire safety and mitigation strategies, especially within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)—areas where development meets natural vegetation and fire risk is elevated. Attendees heard from representatives of FFD, the Fountain Police Department, Fountain Utilities, the Fountain Parks Department, and the Office of the City Manager. The department detailed a mitigation project it completed last month in Hibbard Park–a spot City Parks believes has a high wildfire risk. Crews thinned out brush and grass which could help spread a wildland fire. The City has also identified seven to eight open spaces FFD wants to address immediately with mitigation. FFD stressed that the community is pivotal to the department's responses to fire events. 'On those high fire danger days, those high fire risk days, if you see something, say something,' said Division Chief Jared Cass. 'If you see smoke, call 911. Don't assume somebody else has already called, because maybe nobody has. And the sooner we get notified about those, the quicker we can put them out, the smaller they stay, the less damage to the environment and our community.' FPD reminds the community that the best way to stay connected to first responders and be alerted if ever there is a wildland emergency is to sign up for community notifications at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Experts: Austin's proposed wildfire risk map unlikely to hike property insurance rates
The Austin City Council is set to vote Thursday on a new and significantly expanded wildfire risk map that some local industry groups have opposed because they say it would increase building costs and potentially raise property insurance premiums. While there is little disagreement that the proposed map would lead to higher building costs, experts say it's unlikely the map alone would lead to a hike in insurance rates – and that it could even lower them over time. The Wildland-Urban Interface Code, known around City Hall as the WUI or WUIC, outlines minimum building requirements for new developments and property renovations 'to prevent ignition of and spread of wildfire,' according to the Austin Fire Department. That includes using fire-resistant materials for roofs and limiting kinds of vegetation near a building. Assistant Fire Chief André de la Reza said it would be difficult to 'find someone whose house has been in a wildfire who would say these are bad ideas.' The current WUI map puts 38% of the city at varying degrees of risk. It mostly consists of peripheral areas where building density is lower and structures are closer to plots of flammable grasslands, pastures and other types of wildlands. Properties fall into three risk categories – A, B or C – that are based on proximity to those flammable areas. Each has different mitigation requirements with Zone A, the riskiest, having the most stringent. Under the proposed map, the percentage of the city considered at risk would increase to 51% because it would expand Zone C, the lowest risk zone. That's because city officials want to update the WUI code to include properties within a half-mile of wildland plots larger than 40 acres. Under the current map, Zone C includes properties within 1.5 miles of flammable areas larger than 750 acres. There's widespread agreement that the proposed map would lead to cost increases for developers who want to build in the expanded areas of the map because fire-resistant materials are more expensive. 'When you're having to use either concrete wood or hardened wood, those items cost more,' said Taylor Jackson, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin, which has called on the City Council to hold off on adopting the new map so it can explore better alternatives. 'There are some more significant options that would have more impact on wildfire prevention than just updating a code.' Jackson and representatives from other local industry groups have also voiced concerns about the effect a new map could have on property insurance premiums. But several experts told the American-Statesman that it's unlikely the map would affect rates. Karen Collins, vice president of property and environmental at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said insurers typically don't rely on this type of risk map because they aren't updated frequently enough to use them to calculate rates. Rather, she said they are primarily designed to set standards for building and land-use codes over a multiyear period. 'Companies need a much faster, more frequent, refresh,' Collins said. She pointed to a 2022 survey of insurance providers taken in Oregon after backlash over a proposed statewide risk map that asked whether they would use the map to set rates. All, in legally binding answers, said no. Eric Macomber, a wildfire legal fellow at Stanford University Law School, said that while public risk maps could be included as part of risk calculations, the models that insurers use to set rates already use many of the same details the maps are based on. 'This means that the release of public maps based on the same underlying information probably will not have a dramatic effect on premiums or insurance availability,' he wrote in an email. In fact, he said 'it's conceivable that they could work to stabilize or even lower premiums' in the long term because the new building requirements would reduce risk. Florida State University professor Charles Nyce, an expert in risk management and insurance, agreed that requiring fire mitigation efforts for new developments would likely have a net-positive effect even though construction costs would rise in the short term. But just because the proposed WUI map is unlikely to drive up insurance premiums doesn't mean that they won't increase for other reasons. 'In recent years, inflation in the cost of building materials and construction labor, higher reinsurance costs, and the frequency and size of weather events has added to insurance costs,' Ben Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Insurance, said in a written statement. Data from the department show that average home insurance premiums in Texas jumped to $2,803 in 2023 from $1,961 in 2019. 'Texas, by far, has had more disasters than any other state,' said Collins, the insurance association vice president. 'The more that consumers can take steps to reduce the risk, the better position they are going to put themselves in for insurance access and costs.' Austin Fire Department officials urge property owners to make use of the city's free 'Structural Ignition Zone Evaluations' for personalized guidance on how to harden a property to diminish wildfire risks. To request an evaluation, you can fill out an interest form online. You can also call the Fire Department's nonemergency line at 512-974-0130. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin's proposed wildfire risk map unlikely to raise insurance rates
