WILDFIRE MITIGATION SPECIALIST
STUDY SET WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Spot fires - ANSWER-Fires started by airborne embers some distance away from the
main body of the fire
What two factors are the primary determinants of a home's ability to survive a wildfire? -
ANSWER-Quality of defensible space
Structural ignitability
What does HIZ stand for? - ANSWER-Home ignition zone
What is included in the home ignition zone? - ANSWER-The structure
The space immediately surrounding the structure
What is the primary goal to protect a home from wildfire? - ANSWER-Reduce or
eliminate fuels and ignition sources within the HIZ
What are some benefits of fire? - ANSWER-Thin tree and brush stands
Remove dead material
Opens up forest floor to sunlight
Nourishes the soil
Wildland urban interface - ANSWER-Any area where structures and other human
development meets or intermingles with wildland vegetative fuels
Fire suppression in the WUI - ANSWER-When fire occurs here, it is suppressed to
protect people and their homes, so the fires do not burn the way they should to reset the
ecology of the systems
Vegetation is then increased in these areas, which provides more fuel for fires
International Code Council (ICC) - ANSWER-Non-governmental organization that
develops and maintains model building codes for use by state and local jurisdictions
What is construction regulated by? - ANSWER-Building codes
How does a model building code become enforceable? - ANSWER-When it is adopted
by state and local jurisdiction, with or without amendments, and becomes law.
What is home rule? - ANSWER-Local governments have the ability to establish their
own sets of codes and standards specific to their community.
, Is Colorado a home-rule state? - ANSWER-Yes
What is the most widely adopted code addressing WUI? - ANSWER-The 2009
International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC)
International Wildland-Urban Interface Code - ANSWER-Establishes minimum
regulations for land use and the built environment in designated WUI areas, using
prescriptive and performance related provisions. It is founded on data collected through
tests and fire incidents, technical reports, and mitigation strategies from around the
world
What are ignition-resistant building materials? - ANSWER-These sufficiently resist
ignition or sustain flaming combustion to reduce losses from WUI conflagrations under
worst-case weather and fuel conditions with wildfire exposure to burning embers and
small flames
Recommended two-part approach to reducing wildfire danger in the WUI - ANSWER-
Build more ignition-resistant structures
Reduce hazardous forest fuels
Fire intensity - ANSWER-How hot a fire burns
Fire duration - ANSWER-How long a fire will last
How ignition resistant should a structure be? - ANSWER-Depends on the fire intensity
and fire duration of the site.
In mountainous regions of CO, what does the fire hazard depend on? - ANSWER-
Topography and vegetation density
How are embers produced in a wildfire? - ANSWER-When conifer trees are consumed
by the fire
When burning structures are consumed - wood decks, shake roofs
What are three ways wildfire can ignite structures? - ANSWER-Direct flame contact
Burning ember landing on a flammable surface
Radiant heat
What are the three factors that affect wildfire behavior in the WUI? - ANSWER-Fuels
Weather
Topography
Aspects of fuels that affect wildfire behavior - ANSWER-The type, continuity, and
density of surrounding vegetation, and flammable structures
STUDY SET WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Spot fires - ANSWER-Fires started by airborne embers some distance away from the
main body of the fire
What two factors are the primary determinants of a home's ability to survive a wildfire? -
ANSWER-Quality of defensible space
Structural ignitability
What does HIZ stand for? - ANSWER-Home ignition zone
What is included in the home ignition zone? - ANSWER-The structure
The space immediately surrounding the structure
What is the primary goal to protect a home from wildfire? - ANSWER-Reduce or
eliminate fuels and ignition sources within the HIZ
What are some benefits of fire? - ANSWER-Thin tree and brush stands
Remove dead material
Opens up forest floor to sunlight
Nourishes the soil
Wildland urban interface - ANSWER-Any area where structures and other human
development meets or intermingles with wildland vegetative fuels
Fire suppression in the WUI - ANSWER-When fire occurs here, it is suppressed to
protect people and their homes, so the fires do not burn the way they should to reset the
ecology of the systems
Vegetation is then increased in these areas, which provides more fuel for fires
International Code Council (ICC) - ANSWER-Non-governmental organization that
develops and maintains model building codes for use by state and local jurisdictions
What is construction regulated by? - ANSWER-Building codes
How does a model building code become enforceable? - ANSWER-When it is adopted
by state and local jurisdiction, with or without amendments, and becomes law.
What is home rule? - ANSWER-Local governments have the ability to establish their
own sets of codes and standards specific to their community.
, Is Colorado a home-rule state? - ANSWER-Yes
What is the most widely adopted code addressing WUI? - ANSWER-The 2009
International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC)
International Wildland-Urban Interface Code - ANSWER-Establishes minimum
regulations for land use and the built environment in designated WUI areas, using
prescriptive and performance related provisions. It is founded on data collected through
tests and fire incidents, technical reports, and mitigation strategies from around the
world
What are ignition-resistant building materials? - ANSWER-These sufficiently resist
ignition or sustain flaming combustion to reduce losses from WUI conflagrations under
worst-case weather and fuel conditions with wildfire exposure to burning embers and
small flames
Recommended two-part approach to reducing wildfire danger in the WUI - ANSWER-
Build more ignition-resistant structures
Reduce hazardous forest fuels
Fire intensity - ANSWER-How hot a fire burns
Fire duration - ANSWER-How long a fire will last
How ignition resistant should a structure be? - ANSWER-Depends on the fire intensity
and fire duration of the site.
In mountainous regions of CO, what does the fire hazard depend on? - ANSWER-
Topography and vegetation density
How are embers produced in a wildfire? - ANSWER-When conifer trees are consumed
by the fire
When burning structures are consumed - wood decks, shake roofs
What are three ways wildfire can ignite structures? - ANSWER-Direct flame contact
Burning ember landing on a flammable surface
Radiant heat
What are the three factors that affect wildfire behavior in the WUI? - ANSWER-Fuels
Weather
Topography
Aspects of fuels that affect wildfire behavior - ANSWER-The type, continuity, and
density of surrounding vegetation, and flammable structures
