ABSTRACT
Continued population growth in the intermountain West coupled with decades of fire suppression policy places entire communities and their associated infrastructure at continued risk of wildland fire (Beebe and Omi 1993; GAO 1999). As a consequence, more people, property, and infrastructure are exposed to the risk of wildfire than at any time in recent history. Since 1970, more than 30,000 structures, including 10,000 homes, have been destroyed by wildfires throughout the United States (Firewise 2004). From 1988 to 1998, wildfires consumed over 20,000 square miles, destroyed some 6,500 structures, caused losses estimated in excess of $2.5 billion, and resulted in mo re than 40 deaths (Deyle et al. 1998).
