The Wildland Urban Interface: Assessing Wildfire Risk For Toxic Release Facilities in Nevada

Wildfires have raged across the United States with increasing frequency and intensity in recent years, with the west demonstrating the most significant change. In the past 50 years alone, annual wildfire burn areas in the West have increased by a multiple of ten. An escalation of urbanization and population growth across the wildland-urban interface (WUI) has exacerbated the potential for fires to cause Natech disasters, increasing the chances of toxic chemicals entering the environment. Facilities storing such potentially dangerous chemicals are required to report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and are recorded in the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). 

This research analyzes the geographic distribution, quantity, and level of wildfire risk of Nevada TRI facilities. Wildfire Hazard Potential (WHP) data was organized into 6 categories, with the mean wildfire risk for each Nevada TRI facility obtained by averaging the WHP values within a 5 US-mile buffer zone. 23% of Nevada facilities were found to be at heightened risk of wildfire, leaving over 425 million pounds of harmful chemicals at risk. Not only is Nevada threatened by the potential chemical exposure, but this study found that toxic smoke from wildfires can travel hundreds of miles from its source. In order to protect the health of both humans and the environment, the development and upkeep of detailed wildfire safety plans are essential for TRI facilities across the state.

For more information email: dprice@eckerd.edu 

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