Program


Program

This event is the premier in-person convening on Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Engineering, bringing together academics, industry, research organizations, local officials, first responders, and many other stakeholders to learn and collaborate on issues of mutual interest. Join us to hear from world-renowned leaders and be part of shaping the future of fire engineering and related fields. The program committee has assembled an exceptional program, featuring 35+ speakers across 20+ presentations, keynote sessions, plenary panels, and nearly 60 research posters.  

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 SPEAKER BIOS & ABSTRACTS
   
Featured Sessions: 
  • Opening Keynote - What is the WUI fire problem? Steve Kerber, PhD, UL Research Institutes'  Fire Safety Research Institute
  • Keynote #2 - Insurance Approaches to WUI Risk Assessment and Modeling: Research Gaps and Opportunities for Engineers. Pete Abbate, Milliman
  • Keynote #3 - Why WUI Fire Engineering Needs Social Scientists Jeannette Sutton, PhD, The Warn Room
  • Keynote #4 - How Is New Technology Making a Difference? Andrea Santy, XPRIZE Wildfire
  • Plenary Panel #1 - Understanding the Impact of WUI Fires.
    • Moderator: Fernando Raffan-Montoya, PhD, University of Maryland, College Park
    • Kimiko Barrett, PhD, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience
    • Erica Fischer, PhD, Oregon State University
    • Christine Wiedinmyer, PhD, University of Colorado, Boulder and University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)
  • Plenary Panel #2 - How can engineers help drive better decision-making in WUI communities?
    • Moderator: Ann Jeffers, PhD, University of Michigan
    • Donna Settle, PE, PMSFPE, Gallagher
    • Ali Ashrafi, PhD, PE, CFEI, Thornton Tomasetti
    • Birgitte Messerschmidt, PSFPE, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
    • Nathan Wittasek, PE, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH)
  • Plenary Panel #3 - WUI Education for Engineers.
    • Moderator: Daniel Gorham, PE, UL Research Institutes'  Fire Safety Research Institute
    • Albert Simeoni, PhD, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    • Serdar Selamet PhD, Exponent & Stanford University
    • Fernando Raffan-Montoya, PhD, University of Maryland, College Park
    • Elsa Pastor, PhD, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Center for Technological Risk Studies (CERTEC)
    • Qianru Guo, PhD, PE, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH)
  • Plenary Panel #4 - WUI WG Module Updates.
    • Education: William Koffel, PE, Koffel Associates & University of Maryland, College Park
    • Policy: Erica Fischer, PhD, Oregon State University
    • Research: James Urban, PhD, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Closing Panel #5 - Creating the Infrastructure for WUI Fire Engineering Research and Collaboration. 
    • Steve Kerber, PhD, UL Fire Safety Research Institute 
    • Leslie Marshall, PhD, SFPE Foundation
    • Arnaud Trouvé, PhD, University of Maryland, College Park

Local Tours: The Department of Fire Protection Engineering will be offering tours of its fire laboratory facilities. Tours will depart at 3:30 pm from the terrapin Testudo Statue in the Lobby of the Stamp Student Union on Monday, August 10.

Confirmed Poster Presentations

POSTER MAP AND LIST

Community Stakeholder Engagement 


Author(s): Hannah Odia

Abstract: Wildfire mitigation and prevention are highly prevalent issues given the acceleration of climate change globally. Wildfire risk is managed using an amalgamation of methodologies and tools derived from a Western worldview. However, the current strategies used within wildfire risk management have failed to reflect the population and geographic diversity across Canada. Indigenous communities experience wildfire evacuation events at a rate much higher than non-Indigenous population. Moreover, there is a wide breath of knowledge held within Indigenous communities which should be foundation of Indigenous led wildfire management. This poster used an interdisciplinary approach to blend technical wildfire risk factors, such as topography and vegetation, with population level sociodemographic variables. Consequently, a novel set of principles was proposed to enhance wildfire risk understanding and assessment across the field of wildfire management. These principles will assist in reorienting non-Indigenous researchers toward improvements in Indigenous wildfire risk assessment and decision-making.


Author(s): Paulina Mejia, Amelia Pludow, and Darlene Rini

Abstract: Recent wildfire events, including the 2020 Bobcat Fire, 2024 Bridge Fire, and 2025 Eaton Fire, affecting the San Gabriel Valley, have underscored the need for regional approaches to wildfire resilience that extend beyond technical analysis alone. This presentation draws from the development of a Regional Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG), highlighting how effective community and stakeholder engagement is essential to translating WUI fire engineering into meaningful action. While wildfire hazard and risk analyses provided the baseline foundation of the project, success depended on facilitation, risk communication, and coordination across multiple jurisdictions and stakeholder groups. Through a cohesive engagement process such as public workshops, stakeholder and technical advisory group coordination, the project team worked to make complex wildfire hazards and risk information accessible, credible, and actionable. The presentation shares lessons learned and practical strategies for fire protection engineers supporting community-scale wildfire resilience.

Community-Level Risk Assessment, Exposure Characterization, or Guides and Standards 


Author(s):Albert Presto

Abstract:This poster will introduce the nationwide Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurement NeTwork (ASCENT). We will show how ASCENT data can be used to quantify impacts of WUI fires, especially on downwind populations how can be locations hundreds of kilometers from the fires.


Author(s): Andrew J. Whelton

Abstract: Wildland–urban interface (WUI) fires can contaminate residential soils and damage drinking water systems when buildings, vehicles, and household materials burn, releasing asbestos, metals, and organic compounds that pose significant health risks. Following the 2025 Los Angeles fires, an evidence-based protocol for investigating and restoring drinking water systems was successfully implemented, accelerating recovery. Building on this model, similar science-based approaches for fire debris removal and soil restoration were developed. This presentation summarizes results from residential ash testing across five fires, soil sampling from about 130,000 properties after debris removal in California, Hawaii, and Oregon, and lessons learned from property-specific investigations. Ash analyses found 11 of 18 metals exceeded health or hazardous waste thresholds, while all measured PAHs exceeded residential screening levels. Post-cleanup soil testing showed 16–32% of properties still exceeded at least one health screening level. These findings informed a practical framework to improve cleanup decisions and support safer community recovery.


Author(s): Esther Jose

Abstract: Prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools for reducing wildfire risk in the wildland–urban interface (WUI), yet its implementation remains limited by uncertainty and community acceptance. This poster presents preliminary results from the NSF-funded RECAP (Robust, Efficient, and Community-Guided Framework for Smoke-Aware Prescribed Fire Planning in the WUl) project, focusing on two foundational components: a public perception survey examining attitudes toward prescribed fire and wildfire risk, and a probabilistic wildfire risk model that quantifies uncertainty in fire occurrence and impacts. We demonstrate how these complementary efforts provide the inputs needed for a decision-support framework that balances wildfire risk reduction with community preferences. The poster highlights early survey findings, the development of the risk modeling framework, and the role of operations research in integrating technical risk assessments with stakeholder values to support more informed and practical prescribed fire planning in WUI communities.


Author(s): Gabriela Calana Somoza

Abstract: In California, power-system equipment failures have been implicated in approximately 40% of the state’s most destructive wildfires, yet regional ignition models that explicitly account for utility infrastructure remain limited. Moreover, existing wildfire risk frameworks rarely integrate ignition, spread, damage, and loss within a unified workflow. We describe a comprehensive regional wildfire risk framework that begins with ignition modeling for multiple ignition sources using parametric Poisson point process models that consider spatial and weather-related predictors of ignition. Outputs from the ignition models inform wildfire spread simulations under the same weather conditions as the ignition. The resulting damage to physical assets is quantified across the community to estimate expected losses. A case study analysis for Sonoma County, California, demonstrates the approach. This framework supports risk-informed mitigation strategies and improved assessment of potential liability from utility-related ignitions.


Author(s): Haejun Park and Brookelyn Conner

Abstract: Numerous efforts have been undertaken to improve resilience to wildland–urban interface (WUI) fires; however, the effectiveness and efficiency of these measures remain difficult to quantify. This challenge arises in part because WUI fire outcomes are governed by a wide range of interconnected performance attributes, making comprehensive resilience assessment highly complex. Furthermore, each WUI community exhibits unique characteristics across these attributes, complicating the selection of appropriate mitigation strategies. In this study, we developed two performance-based WUI fire resilience assessment models through the systematic anatomization of both regulatory codes and documented WUI fire outcomes into detailed performance attributes related to wildfire behavior, structural vulnerability, and human/community factors. These attributes and their interdependencies are organized across the four emergency management phases: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The resulting framework enables structured comparisons across communities with differing safety conditions and supports the development of tailored resilience strategies for WUI fire risk reduction.


Author(s): Hannah Gibbs

Abstract: As wildfire events become more prevalent and severe, there is an increased research interest into the human health effects of wildfire emissions. The proposed study aims to expand on previous wildfire research completed by the University of Waterloo Fire Research group by speciating and quantifying heavy metal and VOC concentrations in wildfire emissions. Representative samples of Ontario trees will be tested using the cone calorimeter and analyzed for the presence of VOCs and trace heavy metals in emissions by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).


Author(s): Jiwon Baik

Abstract: Fire codes require that all portions of a building exterior be accessible from fire apparatus and hydrants within a prescribed distance along an unobstructed route. In practice, this requirement is typically evaluated during plan review using manual or computer-based measurements in construction or permitting drawing sets. However, in research where access is assessed for jurisdiction-wide inventories, existing building stock, or wildfire risk planning, data-driven approaches commonly rely on straight-line distance evaluation. This presentation introduces a big-data–driven spatial framework for evaluating fire personnel and fire apparatus access to building perimeters. The approach identifies the travel distance from all hydrants and fire access roads to the furthest point along the exterior of a building, accounting for obstacles such as buildings, parcel boundaries, and other barriers. Using a large-scale application across Santa Barbara County, California, the presentation demonstrates how building-scale hydrant and fire road access requirements can be applied at City or County scale to help identify deficiencies in coverage and help inform infrastructure or operational improvements for fire or wildfire safety at scale.


Author(s): Joe Hart and Katherine Burgum

Abstract: This paper presents a field-based study conducted in Los Angeles aimed at mapping urban and peri-urban foliage to support wildfire mitigation efforts. The research focuses on identifying and documenting tree species located within designated wildfire zones, with attention to their physical characteristics and ignition potential. Fieldwork methods include on-site vegetation surveys, with geospatial mapping using satellite data, and species classification. The study provides a descriptive inventory of dominant and recurring tree species, analysing traits such as leaf structure, moisture content, bark characteristics, and fuel load density that influence flammability and fire behaviour. By linking species composition to wildfire risk, this research contributes localised ecological data that informs vegetation management, urban planning, and fire prevention strategies. The findings aim to support policymakers, land managers, and emergency planners in reducing wildfire vulnerability through evidence-based foliage assessment and mitigation planning, and draws on Delta Fire Engineering’s first-hand experience in the 2025 Palisades fire.


Author(s): Majid Bavandpour

Abstract: Wildland–urban interface (WUI) fire engineering increasingly demands risk metrics that move beyond deterministic scenarios and single-valued indicators. We introduce a probabilistic wildfire risk framework that efficiently quantifies the likelihood and severity of wildfire hazard across the spatial domain. The new approach replaces the traditional reliance on large ensembles of stochastic simulations through a deterministic Generalized Unscented Transform (Gen-UT) for uncertainty propagation. The framework propagates uncertainty in ignition, wind, and fuel conditions through nonlinear fire behavior models, and can incorporate other sources of uncertainty (e.g., modeling errors) at a practical computational cost. Application of the new approach to the 2018 Camp Fire demonstrates good agreement with observed burn probability patterns while also delivering uncertainty-aware outputs suitable for WUI design, mitigation planning, and performance-based decision making. The approach provides a practical pathway for integrating probabilistic wildfire hazard analysis into fire engineering practice.


Author(s): Md Jalal Uddin Rumi, Guowen Song, and Rui Li

Abstract: This presentation introduces an engineering-based laboratory framework for controlled characterization of modern wildland–urban interface (WUI) fire smoke using A Controlled Consistent Exposure Simulation System (ACCESS). As WUI fires increasingly involve biomass, synthetic polymers, structural materials, vehicles, and lithium-ion battery components, smoke exposure cannot be adequately represented by biomass combustion or PM₂.₅ mass alone. ACCESS enables controlled heat flux, oxygen supply, repeatable fuel geometry, smoke transport, real-time particle measurement, and size-resolved chemical sampling. The study evaluates a fuel-complexity gradient from biomass-only combustion to mixed-fuel and battery-involved scenarios, with emissions characterized by particle emission factors, particle number and mass distributions, trace metals, and 16 EPA priority PAHs. Findings highlight number–mass divergence, metal and PAH enrichment in exposure-relevant size fractions, and the limitations of PM₂.₅-centered monitoring for assessing WUI smoke toxicity and firefighter exposure risk.


Author(s): Payton Mooney

Abstract: This poster summarizes an ongoing study to evaluate the role of housing, parcel, and urban planning characteristics on the survivability of houses in the 2025 Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, CA through the development of logistic regression and random forest models.


Author(s): Raphael O. Ogabi, Reza Ziazi, and Albert Simeoni

Abstract: Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) fire events increasingly expose communities to extreme radiant heat, ember intrusion, and prolonged smoke conditions, yet there are currently no established standards to guide the development and performance of protective shelters in these environments. This presentation introduces a tiered-based fire shelter framework designed to support WUI resilience through standardized shelter classifications aligned with evacuation and shelter-in-place strategies. The proposed system defines three tiers based on exposure intensity and occupancy duration, integrating structural hardening, ember-resistant design, and air quality control requirements. The framework combines Hazard Mitigation Methodology (HMM) with Fire Protection Engineering (FPE) principles and leverages computational modeling to evaluate thermal exposure, heat transfer, and internal environmental conditions. By establishing quantifiable performance thresholds for each shelter tier, this work aims to provide a scalable, engineering-based foundation for future WUI shelter standardization. The proposed approach supports community-scale resilience planning and aligns with national wildfire risk reduction initiatives.


Author(s): Sara Cristina Rodrigues Alexandre

Abstract: Fire safety and risk prevention frameworks are frequently structured around building-level compliance and prescriptive self-protection measures. While these approaches are effective at the individual asset scale, they often prove insufficient to address community-level risk in complex hazard environments such as the wildland–urban interface (WUI). Drawing on professional practice in architecture, fire safety, and civil protection, as well as research on community prevention and risk perception, this contribution examines the gap between formal regulatory compliance and effective community preparedness. The work highlights how prevention strategies tend to prioritize documentation, plans, and informational actions, with limited evidence of sustained mechanisms that reduce exposure, strengthen collective readiness, or ensure continuity of essential services. By reframing fire safety practice through a prevention-oriented and community-aware lens, the presentation supports the development of integrated approaches that bridge building-focused safety, territorial context, and community-level preparedness in WUI settings.


Author(s): Van Nguyen

Abstract: The health effects of wildland urban interface fires are poorly studied. It is understood that wildfire emission exposures lead to an increase in adverse health outcomes including, but not limited to, pulmonary, neurological, and cardiovascular responses. Systemic microcirculation is often the cause or consequence of many diseases. However, systemic microvascular responses have not been studied following WUI fire emission exposures. To study this, a computer-controlled modified pellet stove served as a surrogate combustion emissions generator to burn representative WUI pellets made up of 55% pine, 25% oriented strand board, 17% vinyl, and 3% green foam board. 7-8 week-old rats were exposed in a whole-body inhalation exposure chamber for 4 hours for 1-3 days. Endothelium-dependent arteriolar dilation, endothelium-independent dilation, and vasoconstriction were assessed. As a result of these experiments, microvascular dysfunction was observed as impaired endothelium-dependent arteriolar dilation.

Historical and/or Forensic Analysis of the WUI Fire Problem


Author(s): Daniel Gorham

Abstract: Large wildland-urban interface fires can escalate rapidly from initial ignition to widespread conflagrations, as seen in recent incidents like the Camp, Marshall, Lahaina, Palisades, and Eaton Fires. These events often involve wind driven fire spread that overwhelms local response capabilities, with embers igniting spot fires far ahead of the main front. Understanding these fires is challenging but important to improve fire safety. Recent reviews by UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute following the Lahaina, Palisades, and Eaton Fires rely on detailed spatiotemporal reconstruction, incorporating field assessments, responder location data, and geolocated images and videos collected across multiple jurisdictions. This methodology strengthens future efforts to analyze and learn from large scale WUI fire events.


Author(s): Kara Noland

Abstract: Wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires, where natural land meets human development, have gained significant attention. These areas, extending up to a kilometre from communities, face heightened wildfire risks, intensified by climate change. Such threats endanger WUI residents, potentially leading to injuries and fatalities. This presentation shares the results of a project that examined human behaviour during the 2017 Knysna fire, a well-documented South African event. By analysing testimonies from the Knysna Fire Stories book and conducting interviews, the project identified factors influencing behaviour in WUI fires and contributed to understanding human responses in this context. The findings provide insights to inform evacuation procedures and safety measures, ultimately aiming to improve protection for vulnerable communities.


Author(s): Linnea Townsend and Beth Weckman

Abstract: How do decades of weather data relate to wildfire risk? This presentation summarizes research investigating correlations between Canadian Fire Weather Index (FWI) calculations and historical wildfire occurrence from 1950 to today. The FWI is calculated based on temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, and wind speed. Data was assembled from weather stations based on proximity to more than 10 Indigenous communities, who are disproportionately at risk to wildfire damage. This analysis examines trends in peak and extreme FWI conditions and evaluates how well these align temporally with observed wildfire activity across communities, contributing to the development of transferable risk frameworks for remote and rural Canadian communities.


Author(s): Rayne Clarke

Abstract: Understanding how extreme wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires evolve is challenging because critical fire behavior is often reconstructed from incomplete, uncertain, and heterogeneous evidence. This poster presents a methodology for building uncertainty-aware fire progression reconstructions using incident reports, dispatch records, photographs, videos, witness observations, and geospatial datasets. The framework standardizes diverse observations within a spatiotemporal event database and evaluates each event using structured metrics for temporal precision, spatial precision, source reliability, and evidentiary value. By explicitly representing uncertainty rather than treating observations as deterministic, the method provides a more transparent basis for interpreting fire progression and extreme fire behavior. The reconstruction is integrated with environmental and built-environment data to support analysis of potential spread pathways, spotting activity, and transitions between wildland and urban fire spread mechanisms. The work demonstrates how uncertainty-aware reconstruction can improve post-fire analysis, support future modeling efforts, and inform decision-making in WUI fire engineering.


Author(s): Nick McCarthy, Kristy Butler, Rosie Matthews

Abstract: Wildfires are increasingly threatening communities in the Wildland–Urban Interface. Recent disasters such as the Camp Fire in California show how quickly fires can spread from forests into towns, causing devastating losses. However, most existing fire models focus either on fires in vegetation or fires in buildings, and rarely capture how these two processes interact. This research develops a new modelling approach that links wildfire behaviour with building ignition and fire spread within communities. By allowing burning buildings to influence fire behaviour in surrounding vegetation, the model better reflects how real fires evolve in towns and suburbs. This integrated framework enables more realistic assessment of wildfire risk and helps evaluate mitigation strategies such as defensible space, fuel management, and fire-resistant building materials. The results aim to support safer community design, improved building standards, and more effective planning for wildfire-prone areas.


Author(s): Troy Ferland

Abstract: We present metals concentrations collected via XRF from soil samples following the Lahaina Fire. To contextualize the potential impacts of the built environment in the observed chemistry of the WUI fire, we accessed building material data from Maui County’s publicly available municipal records and used these to estimate the mass and chemistries of combustible materials present during the Lahaina Fire. This provides useful context for the chemical fingerprints observed in collected soil samples.

Individual or Parcel-Level Risk Assessment, Fire Exposure Characterization, or Guides and Standards


Author(s): Abdullah Rehman

Abstract: Wildland–urban interface (WUI) fire risk assessments commonly rely on fuel maps with spatial resolutions on the order of tens of metres, which are insufficient to represent the structure-adjacent fuels that govern fire exposure within the Home Ignition Zone. This presentation introduces a scalable remote sensing framework for sub-metre resolution mapping of spatial exposure variables relevant to structure risk. The method applies object-based segmentation and classification to identify individual vegetative and residential fuel elements with a baseline accuracy of 78%. The approach is demonstrated globally and applied to the 2017 Pedrógão Grande Portugal fire, using fuel distributions, separation distances, and wind conditions to develop a structure loss prediction model achieving an accuracy of 75%. Results illustrate how high-resolution fuel mapping improves characterisation of fire exposure and enables parcel- and community-scale risk assessment in regions where detailed fuel data are otherwise unavailable, with direct implications to mitigation planning and exposure reduction.


Author(s): Alana Miska and Shuna Ni

Preventing structure ignition is a primary objective of wildfire mitigation due to the limited availability of firefighting resources. Exterior wall coverings and assemblies in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) are evaluated using test methods developed for compartment fire protection and life safety, which may not fully address ignition-driven vulnerabilities from external wildfire exposures. This study evaluates the ability of SFM 12-7A-1 and ASTM E2707 to represent WUI fire exposures. Experiments conducted on exterior wall assemblies and coverings, including products listed by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal, with fire-resistance-rated and typical wall construction. Test modifications evaluated the specified thermal barrier at the wall-foundation connection and an alternative wind-driven mulch bed fire exposure. Results show that wall systems meeting current acceptance criteria may permit fire entry into wall cavities and exhibit surface flame spread, highlighting limitations in current test methods and supporting revised evaluation approaches to enhance structure survivability.


Author(s): Krzysztof Munko

Abstract: During a WUI ember attack, firebrands can accumulate, creating spot ignitions on combustible materials. This study investigates how variability in firebrand deposition affects pile-burning behaviour and subsequent heat transfer to the substrate, with an emphasis on spatial heterogeneity and ignition risk. Cylindrical wooden dowels (50 mm × 4 mm) were heated to 400°C and deposited onto a vermiculite bed. A total of 250 g was pyrolysed for 11 minutes and then manually deposited. Temperatures were measured using type-K thermocouples at depths of 5, 10, and 15 mm, with 28 sensors distributed across and above the substrate. Eleven experiments showed variability in burning behaviour and temperature distribution over the substrate surface. Heat flux analysis, together with statistical methods, was used to relate heating patterns to observed burning characteristics. This novel approach can reduce the time and resources invested in characterising firebrand exposure while ensuring reliable data and an acceptable level of uncertainty in the results.


Author(s): Shuna Ni

Abstract: Wildland–urban interface wildfires threaten built environments, motivating fragility-based approaches for risk assessment and damage estimation. However, defining appropriate intensity measures for wildfire-exposed structures remains challenging. Post-fire damage datasets typically lack building-specific heat exposure information, and experimental measurements of heat exposure are sparse and costly. Moreover, current wildfire models cannot reliably predict building-scale heat exposure or structural response under external fire conditions. Consequently, heat exposure is not a practical intensity measure for wildfire fragility analysis, motivating the use of non-thermal proxy intensity measures. This study develops an empirical fragility framework using bivariate fragility surfaces defined by a Site Index (SI) and a Building Index (BI). Using available wildfire damage data, observed damage probabilities are estimated and normalized by regional wildfire ignition probability and modeled as functions of SI and BI using nonparametric kernel density estimation. The resulting fragility surfaces provide a quantitative basis for risk-informed mitigation and wildfire-resilient building design.


Author(s): Tadele Getu

Abstract: Wildland–urban interface (WUI) fires increasingly threaten communities worldwide, yet many remote and resource-constrained communities lack the detailed data required by conventional wildfire risk assessment methods. This presentation introduces a housing vulnerability classification framework designed to support parcel-level wildfire vulnerability assessment using observable indicators. Developed through a systematic review of wildfire vulnerability factors and informed by housing resilience challenges in remote First Nations communities in Canada, the framework incorporates structural characteristics, exposure conditions, and contextual factors influencing wildfire risk. The approach translates established WUI fire engineering concepts, including defensible space, firebrand exposure, and structure-to-structure fire spread, into a practical assessment tool that can be applied where detailed datasets are unavailable. The framework is intended to support mitigation prioritization, resilience planning, and wildfire risk reduction in underserved and wildfire-prone communities.


Author(s): Willa Egan

Abstract: A novel fire risk assessment model for evaluating house fuel load and forecasting structural damage in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fires is developed. The overall methodology consists of three key steps: (1) collecting a database of structures and corresponding environmental information and images in WUI communities, (2) developing a house attribute recognition method based on pattern recognition models to calculate the structural fuel load and indoor fuel load, and (3) building a nonlinear correlation between the extent of structural damage and multiple parcel-scale factors, e.g. vegetation coverage, fuel load, and distance to nearest combustibles.

 
Notification, Evacuation, and/or Human Behavior in WUI Fires


Author(s): Ankush Jha

Abstract: Wildfire evacuations in wildland–urban interface communities are increasingly challenged by complex terrain, rapid fire spread, and transportation network disruptions. Many existing evacuation studies assume static road conditions and overlook the combined effects of terrain-driven fire behavior and traffic breakdowns caused by abandoned vehicles. This study proposes an integrated framework to evaluate evacuation network resilience under wildfire scenarios by explicitly coupling fire spread, terrain effects, and dynamic traffic disruptions. Fire progression is modeled using a physics-based wildfire spread approach derived from Rothermel fire behavior formulations, accounting for slope, wind, and fuel characteristics to estimate spatially varying fire arrival times. These arrival times are translated into time-dependent road closures and capacity reductions. Abandoned vehicles are represented as stochastic, temporary obstacles whose likelihood increases with congestion and hazard exposure. Evacuation demand includes ordered evacuees and dislocated occupants with time-dependent departure behavior and multiple safe destinations. Evacuation flows are simulated using dynamic traffic assignment, and resilience is quantified using clearance time and evacuated-before-deadline metrics. Preliminary results indicate that slope-accelerated fire spread and abandoned vehicles substantially reduce evacuation performance, particularly along uphill corridors and critical bottlenecks.


Author(s): Carol Rice

Abstract: To support wildfire preparedness and evacuation planning, this Wildfire Risk Analysis provides a detailed, location-specific foundation for understanding wildfire hazard (potential intensity and spread of wildfires) and risk (likelihood of wildfire exposure to structures and assets) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in Berkeley, California. The risk analysis supports science-driven emergency preparedness by identifying the most vulnerable areas of the LBNL site and vicinity, quantifying fire behavior potential, and developing data-informed strategies to protect personnel during wildfire events. This data-driven risk analysis employed a variety of tools, spanning wildland fire behavior prediction software packages FlamMap and FARSITE, in combination with a new way of modeling fire growth, Inverse Arrival Time. These models inform the Lab’s protective action strategies and general wildfire emergency preparedness, integrating site-specific evacuation time estimates to develop protective action decision zones. The trigger points required additional decisions on time-bound objectives and the definition of acceptable risk.


Author(s): Justin W. Bonny

Abstract: During wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires, ambiguous emergency alerts can delay resident evacuations. Human factors research indicates that situation awareness (SA), perceiving information, understanding the current context, and predicting future states, may contribute to this. The lack of clear information in alerts can prevent residents from understanding and predicting hazard impacts. To address this, we developed the Wildfire Alert Situation Awareness (WASA) questionnaire. In an experimental study, participants viewed simulated alerts varying in text length (90 vs. 360 characters) and multimodal content (maps/imagery). Psychometric analyses validated the WASA, with connections between alert design, SA, hazard perception, and trust. This research provides empirical evidence that specific alert structures directly influence resident comprehension. The WASA provides a tool for assessing SA in the testing and development of next-generation emergency communications to optimize alerting strategies and improve public safety.

 
Utility Risk Mitigation 


Author(s): Francisco Joglar and Liora Mervis

Abstract: In some states, electric utilities are required to develop plans to minimize the potential for wildfire ignition due to their assets. These plans are often documented in the form of “wildfire mitigation plans”, which are technical documents that utilize risk assessment, modeling and empirical techniques to identify vulnerabilities, assess consequences and prioritize areas of improvement. This presentation will summarize some of the technical approaches implemented in developing these wildfire mitigation plans as well as describe the terminology often used in this engineering field. This information will assist engineers and regulators in understanding the technical approaches currently in place to minimize the impact of wildfires due to assets associated with electrical utilities and how to prioritize future mitigation activities.


Author(s): Mahdis Borhani

Abstract: Wildfires are a growing hazard in many regions of the US, escalating in both frequency and severity in recent years. Power systems significantly intersect with wildfire risk, impact, and response; power lines can cause wildfires, while pre- and post-event power loss affects response and recovery. This study examines what options are available to utility providers to engage in disaster planning, how they perceive their actions in relation to short- and long-term disaster risk reduction, and whether they are acting on opportunities to incorporate resilience practices into their plans. It develops a framework for mitigation practice based on mitigation plans across the Western Interconnection, identifying over 300 actionable wildfire resilience strategies through review of these plans, scientific literature, and white papers. Strategies are classified by category of action and disaster management cycle, validated with professionals, and used to identify challenges of implementation.

 
Digital and New Technologies Applied to WUI 


Author(s): Adetola Koiki

Abstract: Firebrands are a major driver of structure ignition and fire spread in wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires, yet experimental tools capable of capturing quantitative firebrand transport data remain limited. This work presents the development of a compact stereoscopic imaging payload designed for future firebrand trajectory characterization using synchronized multiview imaging. The current work focuses on the design and laboratory validation of the sensing platform, including payload architecture, hardware integration, data acquisition, synchronization, and calibration workflows. The system consists of synchronized lightweight machine vision cameras connected to a compact computing platform and is designed to support future deployment on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms. This poster will present the evolution of the payload design from initial laboratory configurations to a UAV-mountable system incorporating stabilized gimbal integration. The broader objective is to establish a compact and deployable system capable of supporting future firebrand exposure characterization, model validation, and WUI fire risk assessment efforts.


Author(s): Andres Felipe Rivas Bolivar

Abstract: When a Wildland-Urban Interface fire ignites, the window for safe evacuation can be measured in minutes. This presentation introduces an autonomous "Seeker-Firejumper" UAV framework designed to detect and suppress incipient wildfires before they threaten escape routes.A Seeker drone, equipped with a custom computer-vision model and an onboard companion computer, autonomously identifies and georeferences new ignition points in real time. It then hands off the target coordinates to a Firejumper drone carrying a smart suppression payload that delivers a localized drop over the fire.We will share how the full autonomy pipeline, built on ROS 2 and PX4, was validated through Software-in-the-Loop and Hardware-in-the-Loop missions, alongside field tests of the suppression mechanism. By moving from passive aerial observation to active, autonomous suppression, this work offers incident commanders a new tool to slow fire spread and protect WUI communities at the earliest stages.


Author(s): Daniel San Martin

Abstract: Traditional landscape-scale wildland-urban interface (WUI) fire models are essential for assessing community risk, but their high computational cost limits real-time deployment. This presentation introduces an artificial intelligence-driven surrogate model designed to overcome this critical bottleneck. By utilizing a U-Net Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to emulate the semi-physics-based WUI model within the ELMFIRE simulation framework, the surrogate introduces a significant decrease in computational overhead. The AI model rapidly processes complex spatial inputs (such as building footprints, wind conditions, and heat release rates) to reconstruct transient direct flame contact and radiative heat flux fields. Achieving a 15x computational speedup while maintaining substantial predictive accuracy, this AI-driven approach significantly accelerates exposure characterization. This methodology effectively bridges the gap between detailed physics-based simulations and the speed required for large-scale, real-world engineering hazard forecasting and WUI risk mitigation.

 
Fire-Resistant Construction Materials and Structural Performance under WUI Fire Exposure 


Author(s): Supriya Bharti

Abstract: Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fires subject infrastructure to severe thermal exposure, increasing the demand for construction materials that are both resilient and sustainable. This study investigates the elevated-temperature behavior of Belitic Calcium Sulfoaluminate (BCSA)-based cementitious systems with varying water-to-binder ratios and steel fiber reinforcement. Hot-state compressive strength tests were conducted from room temperature to 800°C, while Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Derivative Thermogravimetric Analysis (DTG) were used to examine thermal degradation mechanisms. Although all mixtures experienced strength loss with increasing temperature, the steel fiber-reinforced mixture demonstrated superior performance and retained the highest strength at elevated temperatures. Thermal analysis revealed significant degradation below 150°C due to moisture loss and ettringite decomposition, followed by further degradation between 700-800°C associated with carbonate decomposition. The findings provide insight into the thermal stability and fire performance of BCSA systems and their potential application in resilient infrastructure exposed to WUI fire conditions.


Author(s): Evan Sluder

Abstract: Preventing structure ignition and loss is central to wildfire mitigation, particularly where firefighting resources are limited. Current WUI exterior-wall compliance pathways assess combustibility, flame spread, and fire penetration, but standard tests generally omit edges, joints, and terminations that may create pathways for ignition and fire penetration. This study evaluated ignition vulnerabilities at the wall-foundation interface using five listed claddings installed on both one-hour fire-resistance-rated and non-fire-rated wall assemblies, creating 10 configurations. Two experimental series were conducted: a modified ASTM E2707 direct-flame exposure and a wind-driven mulch-bed fire exposure. Performance varied by cladding, wall construction, and exposure; assemblies that passed one exposure did not necessarily pass the other. Wind-driven mulch fires caused fire penetration and internal ignition through the wall-foundation connection, while direct-flame exposures ignited cavities created by furring strips and produced failures associated with combustible claddings. These findings demonstrate that current acceptance criteria may not capture vulnerabilities at wall system edges or failures occurring on wildfire-relevant time scales. Incorporating installed wall details and wind-driven fire exposures into standardized testing could improve evaluations of exterior wall performance and support structure survivability.

 
Vegetation and Landscape Management


Author(s): Ruiqing "Ryan" Shen and Haejun Park

Abstract: Soil water repellency (SWR) arises from hydrophobic-layer formation that reduces the soil’s ability to absorb water, accelerating rainfall conversion to surface runoff and increasing risks of erosion and flooding. Wildfire is a particularly strong driver of SWR, enhancing both the persistence and severity of soil hydrophobicity. However, many studies rely on muffle-furnace heating under uniform, isothermal conditions that fail to represent the steep temperature gradients and spatially heterogeneous heating produced during wildfires. To better capture wildfire-relevant processes and link microscale wettability changes to macroscale hydrologic responses, this study will develop an experimental framework that complements conventional approaches. It will evaluate top-down heating–induced temperature gradients and associated heat-driven transport, the influence of soil organic matter on hydrophobic-layer depth and continuity, and the role of initial soil moisture in controlling formation thresholds and post-heating stability. This approach will advance mechanistic understanding and improve predictions of post-wildfire runoff and soil erosion hazards.


Author(s): Subhojit Roy

Abstract: The unpredictable transition from smoldering to flaming (StF) combustion severely escalates fire spread and hazards in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) environments. While StF relies on gas-phase pyrolyzate ignition, the precise chemical pathways bridging low-temperature smolder (~900 K) to hot flaming (>1500 K) remain poorly quantified. This study investigates the hypothesis that gas-phase low-temperature chemistry (LTC), specifically cool flames, serves as the primary catalyst for this transition. Recent findings indicate that LTC can lower auto-ignition temperatures by up to 400 °C and shorten ignition delay times by two orders of magnitude. Crucially, the microenvironment above smoldering biomass provides the ideal intermediate temperatures, heavy hydrocarbons, and oxygen availability to sustain cool flames. By adapting an established cool diffusion flame setup to test smoldering biomass, this research aims to map these critical chemical stepping stones, ultimately improving predictive wildfire modeling, risk assessment, and WUI mitigation strategies.


Author(s): Yiren Qin

Abstract: Vegetation management in Zone 0, the area immediately adjacent to structures, is increasingly emphasized for wildfire risk reduction. However, the effect of near-building hedge vegetation on structural fire exposure during severe structure-to-structure fire scenarios remains poorly quantified. In this study, Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) simulations are used to assess the thermal response of a wall assembly exposed to near-structure vegetation under varying moisture contents and vegetation configurations. Vegetation is represented as ensembles of Lagrangian particles with prescribed geometric distributions and fuel properties, enabling parametric evaluation beyond the available experiments. The simulations are benchmarked against field-scale experiments using heat flux measurements at corresponding wall locations. Results indicate that near-building vegetation may temporarily shield portions of the wall before ignition or sustained burning. Once ignited, however, the vegetation can become an additional localized exposure source, increasing wall and eave heat flux and potentially contributing to further fire spread.

 
WUI Fire Modeling and/or WUI Data Management Systems


Author(s): Arithra Debnath Prithu and Ali Tohidi

Abstract: Wildfire-related impacts in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas are increasing due to the elevated risk factors. Firebrand showers are believed to be one of the major causes of fire propagation and losses in the WUI. This study introduces a novel framework for physics-based, systematic characterization of firebrand deposition patterns over surface fuels using a series of parametric DEM and coupled CFD-DEM simulations. The results predicted that particle-particle and particle-wall friction, as well as rolling friction, significantly influence the accumulation behavior. For cases in which particles are retained within the domain, higher initial velocities result in greater accumulation than lower velocities. A comparison has also been conducted between pure DEM and coupled CFD-DEM simulations, indicating that in low-velocity scenarios, DEM can describe deposition dynamics, whereas in high-velocity scenarios, the CFD-DEM approach should be adopted.


Author(s): Almoutazbellah Kutkut and Ali Tohidi

Abstract: Structure-to-structure fire spread is a major contributor to losses during wildland–urban interface (WUI) fire events, where thermal radiation plays a critical role in igniting neighboring structures. This study investigates the capability of the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) to predict external fire exposure using validation against two full-scale National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) experiments. A systematic sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of key radiation modeling parameters, including optical path length, spectral absorption treatment, radiation fraction, and angular discretization. The results demonstrate that physically consistent radiation modeling substantially improves prediction accuracy for both instantaneous heat flux and accumulated thermal exposure. Optimized configurations achieved strong agreement with experimental measurements across multiple heat flux gauge locations. The findings provide experimentally validated guidance for CFD-based WUI fire exposure assessment and support the development of more reliable community-scale fire spread and structure ignition modeling approaches.


Author(s): Carlos Murillo

Abstract: The large-scale deployment of hydrogen as an energy carrier raises critical safety challenges, particularly for underground storage facilities located near forested and wildland–urban interface (WUI) areas. This presentation addresses the potential fire and wildfire risks associated with accidental hydrogen releases from underground storage in salt caverns. Within the framework of the European FRHYGE project, a CFD-based consequence analysis was conducted for the hydrogen storage site of Manosque (France), focusing on a blowout scenario at the wellhead. Using Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), the study evaluates hydrogen dispersion, ignition, and resulting thermal radiation effects, accounting for local topography. The simulations identify forested zones exposed to critical heat flux levels exceeding 8 kW/m², indicating a high susceptibility to fire ignition. An additional wildfire simulation explores potential cascading effects between hydrogen infrastructure accidents and wildfire initiation. The results provide valuable insights for risk assessment and mitigation strategies for hydrogen storage facilities in fire-prone environments.


Author(s): Chenzhi Ma

Abstract: The increasing Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) fire conflagrations in recent wildfire incidents highlights the need for tools and methods for pre-fire structural-level damage prediction and risk assessment. We introduce an interpretable machine-learning-based fragility model as part of a modular probabilistic wildfire risk assessment framework to predict WUI structures damage probabilities. The machine-based model is built from multi-source geospatial data, integrating over 50,000 CAL FIRE Damage Inspection (DINS) records with weather, building footprints, NAIP imagery, and canopy-height products, and includes physics-based features to quantify direct flame-contact potentials, radiative heating from surroundings, and ember exposures. The model predicts the probability of structural damage at a structure-level. The predicted damage probabilities are designed to construct fragility functions, which are then used as the damage assessment module within a probabilistic wildfire risk assessment framework.


Author(s): Debadrita Das

Abstract: The study of transport and deposition of firebrands is important to identify the regions in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) that are most susceptible to ignition during a wildfire. To investigate the fire spread at WUI, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Discrete Element Method (DEM) approach is adopted. The wind field for firebrand transport is modeled in CFD software OpenFOAM and the firebrands are modeled in DEM software LIGGGHTS. The irregular shape of firebrands is captured by the superquadric particle shape in DEM. Modeling firebrands as superquadric discrete element particles enables simulation of individual firebrand trajectories, interactions and post-contact kinematics. The proposed CFD-DEM framework for firebrand transport is validated against wind-tunnel experiments. Upon validation, the method is applied to investigate the effect of house morphology on firebrand accumulation patterns in the WUI, particularly the influence of orientation of structures with respect to the wind field and accumulation around vulnerable structural features.


Author(s): Grayson Bellamy

Abstract: Wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires expose vegetation and structures to highly variable thermal conditions, where the thermal decomposition of woody fuels strongly influences ignition, fire spread, and structural vulnerability. Engineering fire models used for WUI risk assessment rely on simplified pyrolysis representations, yet limited guidance exists on which reaction schemes provide reliable predictions under fire-relevant conditions. This work evaluates commonly used pyrolysis modeling approaches for woody fuels by comparing component-based (parallel) and lumped sequential reaction schemes using thermogravimetric data for Douglas fir and red oak. Models are calibrated and then tested against independent thermal histories not included in the optimization dataset. Results show that sequential reaction schemes provide more robust and transferable predictions than component-based models. These findings offer practical guidance for selecting pyrolysis models in WUI fire simulations, supporting improved parcel- and community-scale exposure assessment, risk modeling, and development of engineering-based mitigation strategies and standards.


Author(s): Janice Coen

Abstract: "WUI fire engineering methods commonly characterize exposure using parcel-centric assumptions of laterally uniform wind and edge-driven fire spread. Evidence from recent fires shows that these assumptions can fail in terrain-influenced communities, where stable stratification and terrain-following flow redirect fire spread and exposure at neighborhood scales. When these mechanisms are overlooked, parcel-level mitigation guidance and community risk assessments can misrepresent structure-relevant hazard. This work examines exposure conditions in representative WUI communities using coupled weather–fire simulations and post-fire reconstruction at 100–300 m scales. Near-surface wind structure, fire spread, and exposure are analyzed in relation to terrain and community features such as greenways, drainage corridors, and open-space networks. Results show that stable, terrain-hugging flow can concentrate fire spread and ember transport into low-lying community corridors, allowing fire to penetrate well beyond expected exposure zones. These pathways are spatially localized and transient, yet they strongly influence ignition sequencing and damage patterns. An exposure-regime perspective is proposed to better bound these hazards for parcel risk assessment and community-scale planning.


Author(s): Joe Hart and Katherine Burgum

Abstract: This study presents a new experimental apparatus, the Burgum–Hart Tunnel, designed to investigate the production and behaviour of burning brands under forced airflow. The apparatus consists of a 2.4m enclosed tunnel in which a fan-driven flow is applied to a burning fuel load, entraining and propelling released brands. Experiments were conducted to observe brand release dynamics, transport behaviour, and survivability under repeatable flow conditions. The Burgum–Hart Tunnel enables controlled variation of airflow and fuel characteristics, providing a reproducible platform for studying firebrand generation. Results demonstrate that the apparatus can reliably produce burning brands representative of those observed in wildland and wildland–urban interface fires. This work introduces a novel experimental tool that improves understanding of firebrand-driven fire spread and supports development of more accurate predictive models. The work is influenced by Delta Fire Engineering’s first-hand experience at the 2025 Palisades fire in Los Angeles and subsequent fieldwork.


Author(s): Jorge Valdivia

Abstract: Wooden dowels were exposed to controlled combinations of forced convection and incident radiation using a convective-radiative ignition facility to examine flaming ignition under coupled thermal exposure. White oak dowels of three diameters were tested over a range of gas temperatures, flow conditions, and radiative heat fluxes. Ignition outcomes were analyzed using pseudo incoming heat flux, energy dose, heating-mode classification, and logistic regression in a combined radiative-convective parameter space. A two-dimensional polar pyrolysis model was also used to examine thermal degradation, char formation, and internal temperature evolution around the dowel cross section. Results showed that flaming ignition was governed by the coupled influence of gas temperature, convection, radiation, and diameter, rather than by a single imposed variable. Glowing combustion preceded all flaming ignition cases, suggesting that oxygen transport and char oxidation helped control the transition from glowing to flaming ignition.


Author(s): Jun Meng

Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic pollutants with significant health risks, yet their sources and atmospheric burdens remain uncertain, particularly under an evolving wildfire regime. In this study, we develop an wildfire PAH emission inventory by integrating multiple global fire emission datasets with land cover–specific emission factors, and implement it in the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model over North America for 2009–2021. Model evaluation shows improved agreement with surface observations and highlights the importance of high spatial resolution in resolving wildfire-driven pollution. Results indicate that wildfires dominate summertime PAH levels in western North America and are an increasingly important contributor to regional cancer risk. As future work, we will develop wildland urban interface (WUI)–specific emission factors to better represent mixed combustion of vegetation and built materials. This work advances understanding of fire-driven air pollution and improves tools for assessing air quality and public health impacts under a changing climate.


Author(s): Kuldeep Prasad

Abstract: We investigate the application of full-physics-based model, the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), to understand coupling of spread rate with local atmospheric conditions and predict evolution of wildland fire fronts. Simulation results for various ignition line lengths and ambient wind speeds capture the relationship between spread rate and fire width and compared favorably with empirical formulas available in the literature. We investigate the role of Byrams’ Convective Number and elucidate the physical processes that result in different fire perimeter shapes under low or high wind conditions.


Author(s): Mateo Giorgi

Abstract: Verification tests and grid convergence tests are a common quality control approach in the development of CFD models. However, so far, these tests have not been adopted by the landscape-scale fire modeling community. We present here a series of test simulations in a one-dimensional academic configuration that serve to verify the numerical accuracy of the firebrand model recently developed by UMD for integration into ELMFIRE, and to check the sensitivity of the predictions to changes in spatial resolution. The academic configuration corresponds to structure-to-structure fire spread due to firebrands and a strong crosswind. The problem is first simulated in MATLAB and then in ELMFIRE. Numerical results are compared to hand calculations of firebrand accumulation and ignition time. The simplified configuration is also simulated with different spatial resolutions, from 1 to 50 m. It is found that due to mapping errors, numerical results are extremely sensitive to changes in spatial resolution.


Author(s): Mayowa George

Abstract: Prescribed fire is a critical land management practice in the Great Plains of North America, helping to maintain native rangelands and reduce wildfire risk. However, its application is often constrained by concerns about fire escape and elevated fire danger. This presentation describes the development of a localized Grassland Fire Danger Index (GFDI) to support safer and more confident prescribed fire planning. The study develops sub-models for dead fuel moisture content (DFMC) and grass curing, which represent short-term fuel moisture and seasonal drying that control ignition, fire spread, and fuel availability. Using Oklahoma Mesonet weather data, the DFMC sub-model improves the accuracy and sensitivity of existing approaches. Results also show that approximately 50% grass curing typically occurs around mid-April, aligning with the period of most intensive prescribed fire activity in the region. These components provide a practical foundation for improving fire danger assessment and prescribed fire decision-making in Great Plains grasslands.


Author(s): Nisha Saharan

Abstract: The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme wildfires have resulted in substantial economic losses and threats to human life, particularly in wildland–urban interface (WUI) communities. Wildfire behavior is strongly influenced by ignition location, weather conditions, fuel characteristics, and ignition timing. This study presents a scenario-based wildfire spread modeling framework using the 2025 Eaton Fire as a real-world case study. The framework first simulates the observed fire event to establish a baseline for model evaluation. It then explores a range of hypothetical scenarios by systematically varying ignition locations, weather conditions, and fuel characteristics to capture uncertainties in wildfire spread. The effects of structural hardening measures on building vulnerability and fire propagation are also examined. Results demonstrate that ignition location is a key driver of fire spread patterns and community exposure. The proposed framework provides insights into wildfire risk, infrastructure vulnerability, and mitigation effectiveness, supporting improved risk assessment, land-use planning, and resilience strategies in WUI environments.


Author(s): Riyaaz Shaik

Abstract: WUIgniS is a physics-informed numerical ignition simulator being developed to model wildfire spread in wildland-urban interface communities. The tool represents key ignition mechanisms, including thermal radiation, direct flame contact, and wind-driven firebrand spotting, while incorporating urban and vegetative fuel data. It is driven by mesoscale fire-atmosphere simulations that provide evolving fire-front locations and high-resolution surface wind fields, allowing dynamic wind effects to be included in community-scale simulations. WUIgniS is being evaluated using major WUI fire events, including the 2025 Eaton Fire and the 2023 Lahaina Fire. Through parameter exploration and scenario-based optimization, the tool aims to improve uncertainty-aware, scalable, and interpretable prediction of ignition and fire spread in WUI environments.


Author(s): Rosie Matthews

Abstract: This research develops a new modelling approach that links wildfire behaviour with building ignition and fire spread within communities. By allowing burning buildings to influence fire behaviour in surrounding vegetation, the model better reflects how real fires evolve in towns and suburbs. This integrated framework enables more realistic assessment of wildfire risk and helps evaluate mitigation strategies such as defensible space, fuel management, and fire-resistant building materials. The results aim to support safer community design, improved building standards, and more effective planning for wildfire-prone areas.


Author(s): Zul Kazeem

Abstract: This study presents a computational framework that combines physics-informed wildfire spread modeling, dynamic connectivity analysis, and targeted fuel treatment. The model represents heterogeneous landscapes using fuel, moisture, wind, slope, aspect, and elevation data, then identifies critical pathways that allow fire to move between connected fuel clusters. An adaptive declustering strategy selectively treats important connection points to interrupt fire transmission while preserving most of the landscape. In the proof-of-concept trial, targeted treatment reduced burned area by 93.2%, peak heat by 71.1%, and total energy release by 95%, while eliminating cross-cluster spread. The framework supports more strategic wildfire mitigation and future community-resilience planning.


Summit Sponsors

  • ICC FDM
  • NFPA
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