I-Zone research from the Forest Products Lab

The I-Zone is that area where the wildlands and homes come together. Problems arise because fire is a natural and necessary process in the California wildlands, but threatens life and property when it occurs near where people dwell. With increasing numbers of people moving into the I-Zone, it is important to find ways to deal with and minimize the effects of the inevitable fires.

Researchers are working on this problem in numerous ways including learning to understand fire behavior, modifying the environment to discourage catastrophic fires, working to increase forest health, finding ways to utilize excess biomass, and doing research on practical matters such as finding building materials that withstand fire.

The University of California Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) is a prime player in this field. If you want to get up-to-date information on how to best build homes to survive in the wildland-urban interface, go to the FPL at http://www.ucfpl.ucop.edu/. There you will find results of their tests on decks, roofs, walls, and windows. You will also find studies on woody biomass utilization, defensible space landscaping, and a homeowners¹ survival guide. There are also fact sheets.

In addition, the site contains a comprehensive, 246-page manual, Introduction to the I-Zone at http://www.ucfpl.ucop.edu/I-Zone/IZone2001.pdf. This volume contains general information about issues in the I-Zone. There is extensive coverage of history, the California Fire Plan, laws, fire ecology, effects of fire, fuel management, and even community programs. Check it out.