Wildfires
Impacts of wildfires in the United States have increased rapidly in recent years due to climate change, land management practices, and residential development in fire hazard areas. RFF researchers are working to understand how communities, land managers, and policymakers can take steps to prevent wildland fires from becoming wildfire disasters.
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Explainer — Aug 18, 2021
Wildfires in the United States 102: Policy and Solutions
Wildfires in the United States 102: Policy and Solutions
On the Issues — Jan 24, 2025
On the Issues: Federal Climate Priorities, Local Benefits from Energy Projects, and More
A biweekly newsletter connecting global current events, pressing climate and energy policy news, and economics research from RFF scholars. This week: federal climate priorities, local benefits from energy projects, and more.
Media Highlight — Jan 21, 2025
Reuters: “Can LA Wildfires Prompt New Focus on Community Mitigation Efforts?”
Research by David Wear and insights from Matthew Wibbenmeyer support this story about wildfire mitigation efforts.
Media Highlight — Jan 15, 2025
The New York Times: “Economic Toll of Los Angeles Fires Goes Far Beyond Destroyed Homes”
RFF Senior Fellow Margaret Walls shares her perspective on the lack of public funding needed to recover from the Los Angeles wildfires.
Working Paper — Dec 12, 2024
From Catastrophe to Caution: The Effect of Wildfires on Community Hazard Mitigation Investments
In this working paper, the authors examine the impact of wildfires on community-level hazard mitigation efforts, specifically focusing on participation in the Firewise USA program.
Working Paper — Dec 3, 2024
Changing Hazards, Exposure, and Vulnerability in the Conterminous United States, 2020–2070
In this working paper, the authors analyze how climate change reshapes natural resource hazards in the United States and assess the interplay of hazard exposure, social vulnerability, and drivers like climate and population changes over the next 50 years.
Report — Aug 8, 2024
Can Market Incentives for Wood Products Help Scale Wildfire Risk Reductions in the West?
Can Market Incentives for Wood Products Help Scale Wildfire Risk Reductions in the West?
Report — Jul 18, 2024
Facing Wildfire Insurance Challenges: Five Lessons from the National Flood Insurance Program
What can the United States' long history of insuring flooding losses teach us about the insurability of wildfires?
RFF Live — Nov 30, 2022
Sparking Solutions: Wildfire Risk and Insurance
The third RFF Live event in the "Sparking Solutions" event series examining the role of insurance in mitigating the risks of wildfire.
RFF Live — Oct 12, 2022
Sparking Solutions: Reducing Risk at the Wildland-Urban Interface
On Wednesday, October 12, Resources for the Future (RFF) hosted the second RFF Live event in the “Sparking Solutions” webinar series, where we discussed the benefits and challenges of addressing the WUI problem.
RFF Live — Sep 7, 2022
Sparking Solutions: The Fuels Management Challenge and Opportunity
Examining the role of fuels management in mitigating the impacts and intensity of wildfires
Speech/Presentation — Jan 5, 2021
Wildfires, Smoke, and Outdoor Recreation in the Western United States
Wildfires, Smoke, and Outdoor Recreation in the Western United States
On the Issues — Jan 24, 2025
On the Issues: Federal Climate Priorities, Local Benefits from Energy Projects, and More
A biweekly newsletter connecting global current events, pressing climate and energy policy news, and economics research from RFF scholars. This week: federal climate priorities, local benefits from energy projects, and more.
Resources Magazine Articles — Oct 7, 2024
Elections Matter. So Does Policy Research.
As the presidential election nears, and regardless of outcome, researchers at Resources for the Future continue to pursue work that will inspire interest, bipartisan coalitions, and progress on policy issues, given the political resilience of the topics.
Common Resources — Mar 12, 2024
Living with Wildfire: Adapting to the New Normal
A report from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission confirms an increasingly acknowledged phenomenon: that intense, destructive wildfires are the new normal.
Resources Radio — Oct 17, 2023
The US Wildfire Workforce, with Emily Browne
Emily Browne discusses her experience fighting and preventing wildfires in Alaska with the US National Park Service.
Media Highlight — Jan 21, 2025
Reuters: “Can LA Wildfires Prompt New Focus on Community Mitigation Efforts?”
Research by David Wear and insights from Matthew Wibbenmeyer support this story about wildfire mitigation efforts.
Media Highlight — Jan 15, 2025
The New York Times: “Economic Toll of Los Angeles Fires Goes Far Beyond Destroyed Homes”
RFF Senior Fellow Margaret Walls shares her perspective on the lack of public funding needed to recover from the Los Angeles wildfires.
Media Highlight — Jan 15, 2025
The London Times: “Why California’s Insurance Crisis Leaves Wildfire Victims Helpless”
RFF scholars Margaret Walls and Matthew Wibbenmeyer comment on the state of wildfire insurance in light of the devastating fires in Los Angeles.
Press Release — Jan 3, 2025
White Communities Are More Likely to Enroll in a Western US Wildfire Mitigation Program
A new paper an increase in home protection measures following wildfire is entirely driven by non-Hispanic white households.
