Wildland urban interface fire

News and Updates

Insights Into Behavior During Chimney Tops 2 Fire Could Improve Evacuation Planning

September 2, 2020

As global temperatures continue to rise, cities and towns not historically prone to large wildfires may begin to face greater threats. An unsuspecting Tennessee

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gatlinburg Welcome Center sign is half-burned, leaving only the Gatlinburg name and a white arrow. Debris lies on the ground in front of the sign.

Official NIST Survey to Support Data Collection on Chimney Tops 2 Fire, Improve Emergency Communications

March 29, 2019

GAITHERSBURG, Md.—The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking help from residents of Sevier County

Tested in the Flames

December 21, 2018

FIRES START WITH SIMPLE INGREDIENTS—fuel, oxygen, and a spark—but combustion scientists still struggle to understand the complex ways those ingredients interact

A rectangular-shaped model of a thatched roof is attacked by embers emitted from the pipe-shaped mouth of the NIST Dragon device.

A Fire-Breathing Dragon Helps Fight Ember Attacks on Thatched-Roof Buildings

December 17, 2018

Visitors to the historic mountain villages in central Japan marvel at the elegance of the steep thatched-roof farmhouses found there. Known as “gassho-zukuri,”

Industry Impacts

Reducing Impact of Wildland-Urban Interface Fires

Fires within communities surrounded by natural areas are the most dangerous and costliest fires in North America. Growing at a staggering 4,000 acres per day

Publications

Large Outdoor Fires and the Built Environment (LOF&BE): Summary of Virtual Workshop

November 4, 2020

Author(s)

Samuel L. Manzello, Sayaka Suzuki, Sara McAllister, Brian Lattimer, Daniel Gorham, Alexander Filkov, Maria Theodori, Xinyan Huang

Two virtual workshops of the permanent working group, sponsored by the International Association for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS), entitled Large Outdoor Fires

Camp Fire Preliminary Reconnaissance

August 27, 2020

Author(s)

Alexander Maranghides, William Mell, Steven Hawks, Eric D. Link, Christopher U. Brown, Cartier P. Murrill, Erin Ashley

The Camp Fire started in the early morning of November 8, 2018 in vegetative fuels to the northeast of Concow, California. Concow is an unincorporated community

Towards understanding the effect of cedar roof covering application on firebrand production in large outdoor fires

August 4, 2020

Author(s)

Samuel L. Manzello, Sayaka Suzuki

Due to the increased concern for the environment, sustainable construction materials are getting increased attention. Wood is considered a renewable

Evacuation Decision-Making in the 2016 Chimney Tops 2 Fire: Results of a Household Survey

July 23, 2020

Author(s)

Emily H. Walpole, Erica D. Kuligowski, Lauren B. Cain, Alicea N. Fitzpatrick, Christin Salley

To gain insight into the emergency communication and evacuation decision-making surrounding the 2016 Chimney Tops 2 fire, NIST conducted (via a small business