The Chemistry of Fires at the Wildland-Urban Interface

Wildfires in America are becoming larger, more frequent, and more destructive, driven by climate change and existing land management practices. Many of these fires occur at the wildland-urban interface (WUI), areas where development and wildland areas overlap and which are increasingly at risk of devastating fires as communities continue to expand into previously undeveloped areas. Unlike conventional wildfires, WUI fires are driven in part by burning of homes, cars, and other human-made structures, and in part by burning vegetation. The interaction of these two types of fires can lead to public health effects that are unique to WUI fires. This report evaluates existing and needed chemistry information that decision-makers can use to mitigate WUI fires and their potential health impacts. It describes key fuels of concern in WUI fires, especially household components like siding, insulation, and plastic, examines key pathways for exposure, including inhalation and ingestion, and identifies communities vulnerable to exposures. The report recommends a research agenda to inform response to and prevention of WUI fires, outlining needs in characterizing fuels, and predicting emissions and toxicants. Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 Introduction2 Defining and Contextualizing WUI Fires3 Materials, Combustion, and Emissions in WUI Fires4 Atmospheric Transport and Chemical Transformations5 Water and Soil Contamination6 Human Exposures, Health Impacts, and Mitigation7 Measurement of WUI Fires: Emissions and Exposures8 The Future of WUI Fire ResearchAppendix A: GlossaryAppendix B: Committee Biographical SketchesAppendix C: Available Data for Example FiresAppendix D: Public Workshop AgendaAppendix E: Engineering Calculations for Table 3-2