Preliminary results indicate that the PIRS™ method is generalizable and can be applied to the wildfire hazard with small methodological and contextual modifications. Wildland fire in the WUI presents a unique analytical challenge due to the dynamics of fuel (natural and built environment) variables interacting with climate, topography, and human variables (e.g., land use, development patterns).

We are applying the Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard™ (PIRS) method in partnership with several California jurisdictions that are subject to wildfire hazards. Originally developed with a focus on flooding, the PIRS™ method enables the spatial evaluation of a community’s network of plans to strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to hazards. The process aims to harmonize a community’s network of plans by systematically assessing policies and facilitating their adjustment to improve the focus and coordination of plans on building resilience in the most vulnerable locations.

To address the many-plan-little-integration dilemma, this project focuses on applying the Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard™ (PIRS) method to California jurisdictions that are subject to the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) fire hazard.