How Will Climate Change Influence Wildfires in the US?

Wildfires are an annual occurrence in many areas of the U.S. However, as our climate changes, fires are beginning to ignite in areas that are traditionally at low risk. Just look at the Hawaiian island of Maui.

Despite the increasing number of regions experiencing wildfires, only about 9% of U.S. properties meet the threshold for high or extreme wildfire risk. So how exactly is this risk measured and what role can mitigation play in reducing this natural danger?

In this episode host Maiclaire Bolton Smith sits down with CoreLogic Chief Actuary Howard Kunst to talk about this subject. The two will discuss the wildfire season with a focus on California — one of the most high-profile, wildfire-burdened states in the country — and how the historic rainfall from earlier this year will influence upcoming wildfire risk.

In This Episode:

1:25 – California had one of the wettest winters on record last year. How has that changed wildfire risk in the state? Hint: It didn’t necessarily improve things.

4:08 – Why is awareness of wildfires important for mitigation and how do we create awareness in low-risk areas?

6:07 – Is climate change really making wildfires worse?

7:30 – Erika Stanley talks about extreme weather events in the Natural Disaster Digest.

Links:

• U.S. Home Price Insights Report
• Wildfire Risk Report
• How Will Property Data Help Manage the California Insurance Crisis?

Up Next: Does Low Wildfire Risk Create a False Sense of Security?

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