Wildfires and Humanity
Wildfires and the Wildland Urban Interface - a crisis at the crossroads of nature and development
As part of a series of articles designed to make my scientific research more accessible, select works have been translated by artificial intelligence that’s been trained using an array of my published works, including chapters from Panarchistic Architecture. These translations have replaced specialist terminology and references with that which will be legible to non-specialists with an interest to learn more about the challenge of living with wildfire.
Wildfires, catalysts of reproduction and renewal in fire-adapated ecosystems, have become an escalating global threat as humanity grapples with the dual pressures of climate change and urbanisation. The convergence of expanding Wildland Urban Interfaces (WUIs), intensifying weather extremes, and mass migration is transforming the way we interact with our environment. These zones, where human development meets untamed wildlands, are at the forefront of this growing crisis.
Wildfires and Humanity, which was synthesised from ‘Panta Rhei: The Future of Wildland Urban Interfaces to 2100 and Beyond’ (2018), delves into the historical lessons, scientific insights, and urgent strategies needed to mitigate the risks associated with the wildland-urban-interface in fire-prone places. From ancient myths to modern realities, it explores how communities can adapt to protect both lives and livelihoods. By combining innovation, resilience, and cultural heritage, humanity has the opportunity to reconcile the WUI with the processes of the fire-prone places that surround it.
Extract
“Ancient Myths and Modern Realities of Environmental Adaptation
Humanity has long documented the struggle to coexist with nature's forces. Ancient myths, from the Epic of Gilgamesh to the tale of Pandora, reveal a recurring narrative: warnings unheeded lead to catastrophes that reshape civilizations. These cautionary tales reflect the cyclical interplay of human behavior and environmental change. Archaeological evidence confirms that cities have risen and fallen with shifts in climate and resource availability. Today, the stakes are higher as urbanisation transforms landscapes at an unprecedented scale.
The Wildland Urban Interface: A Growing Risk Zone
The Expanding Threat of Wildfires in Urbanised Landscapes
Wildland Urban Interfaces are where human development meets wildlands. In the U.S. alone, nearly 2 million Californian households currently face "high or extreme risk" from wildfires, a figure projected to increase by 50% by 2050. As a warming climate extends fire seasons and intensifies drought, wildfires are burning larger areas with greater intensity. The expansion of WUIs is compounding the risk, as more homes and infrastructure are built in fire-prone regions.
Climate Change and Mass Migration
From Rising Seas to Inland Migration: The Next Century’s Challenges
Rising temperatures and sea levels, desertification, and land degradation are driving migration on an unprecedented scale. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, over 24 million people were displaced by disasters in 2016 alone. By 2100, estimates suggest that one in five people could become climate refugees.
The United States is not immune. Rising seas threaten to submerge major coastal cities, forcing millions inland. Studies estimate that 13.1 million Americans could be displaced by 2100 due to sea level rise, with cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco facing significant losses. The economic toll is staggering — Zillow predicts that $882 billion worth of U.S. real estate could be underwater by century's end.”
Read the article ‘Wildfires and Humanity: Navigating an Evolving Threat’ in full here.