Applying Urban Fire Mitigation Strategies to Wildland-Urban Interface Fires

Japan has a long history of multiple urban fires but far fewer wildland fires. Recently, Japan experienced several small wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires. Given the situation, the number may increase in the near future. When wildland fires reach communities, structure-to-structure fire spread, the same phenomena to both urban fires and WUI fires, will occur. Urban planning in Japan aimed to prevent large urban fire spread for decades, using strategies as wide roads, parks or non-flammable vegetation as fuel breaks. It is not clear these approaches are effective for the future WUI fire prevention in Japan.  In this presentation, Japan’s approach to urban fire mitigation will be introduced in detail and how these approaches may or may not be applicable to WUI fire mitigation will be discussed.