Wildfires
Impacts of wildfires in the United States have increased rapidly in recent years due to climate change, land management practices, and residential development in fire hazard areas. RFF researchers are working to understand how communities, land managers, and policymakers can take steps to prevent wildland fires from becoming wildfire disasters.
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Explainer — Aug 18, 2021
Wildfires in the United States 102: Policy and Solutions
Wildfires in the United States 102: Policy and Solutions
Working Paper — Apr 19, 2024
Wildfire Smoke in the United States
This working paper identifies priorities and policy options for mitigating the health, economic, and wellbeing impacts of wildfire smoke in the United States.
Common Resources — Mar 12, 2024
Living with Wildfire: Adapting to the New Normal
A report from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission confirms an increasingly acknowledged phenomenon: that intense, destructive wildfires are the new normal.
Media Highlight — Feb 5, 2024
Smithsonian Magazine: “Six Big Ways Climate Change Could Impact the United States by 2100”
RFF Fellow Matthew Wibbenmeyer comments on the threat of climate-driven wildfire.
Working Paper — Apr 19, 2024
Wildfire Smoke in the United States
This working paper identifies priorities and policy options for mitigating the health, economic, and wellbeing impacts of wildfire smoke in the United States.
Journal Article — Feb 1, 2024
Risk Disclosure and Home Prices: Evidence from California Wildfire Hazard Zones
Risk Disclosure and Home Prices: Evidence from California Wildfire Hazard Zones
Working Paper — Aug 14, 2023
Welfare Losses from Wildfire Smoke: Evidence from Daily Outdoor Recreation Data
This working paper calculates the impact that wildfire smoke has on visits to public lands in the western United States, finding approximately $2.3 billion in annual welfare losses.
Working Paper — Jun 12, 2023
The Economics of Forest Fuel Removals on Federal Lands
This working paper examines how to engage the private sector in forest fuel removal on federal lands to reduce wildfire hazard.
RFF Live — Nov 30, 2022
Sparking Solutions: Wildfire Risk and Insurance
The third RFF Live event in the "Sparking Solutions" event series examining the role of insurance in mitigating the risks of wildfire.
RFF Live — Oct 12, 2022
Sparking Solutions: Reducing Risk at the Wildland-Urban Interface
On Wednesday, October 12, Resources for the Future (RFF) hosted the second RFF Live event in the “Sparking Solutions” webinar series, where we discussed the benefits and challenges of addressing the WUI problem.
RFF Live — Sep 7, 2022
Sparking Solutions: The Fuels Management Challenge and Opportunity
Examining the role of fuels management in mitigating the impacts and intensity of wildfires
Speech/Presentation — Jan 5, 2021
Wildfires, Smoke, and Outdoor Recreation in the Western United States
Wildfires, Smoke, and Outdoor Recreation in the Western United States
Common Resources — Mar 12, 2024
Living with Wildfire: Adapting to the New Normal
A report from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission confirms an increasingly acknowledged phenomenon: that intense, destructive wildfires are the new normal.
Resources Radio — Oct 17, 2023
The US Wildfire Workforce, with Emily Browne
Emily Browne discusses her experience fighting and preventing wildfires in Alaska with the US National Park Service.
In Focus — Aug 30, 2023
In Focus: Carbon Emissions from Wildfire
This video shares insights about the record-breaking emissions from Canada’s wildfires and the implications for Canadian, US, and global emissions-reduction efforts, with RFF Fellow Matthew Wibbenmeyer.
On the Issues — Aug 11, 2023
On the Issues: Inflation Reduction Act Anniversary, Demand for Hydrogen, and More
A biweekly newsletter connecting global current events, pressing climate and energy policy news, and economics research from RFF scholars. This week: the anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, hydrogen demand, and more.
Media Highlight — Feb 5, 2024
Smithsonian Magazine: “Six Big Ways Climate Change Could Impact the United States by 2100”
RFF Fellow Matthew Wibbenmeyer comments on the threat of climate-driven wildfire.
Press Release — Aug 14, 2023
Western US Wildfire Smoke Costs $2.3 Billion per Year in Health Impacts and Lost Enjoyment
A new working paper, published by scholars at RFF and the University of Alaska Anchorage, finds that camping trips to public lands are worth $107 less on average if they are affected by wildfire smoke.
Media Highlight — Jun 15, 2023
Barron's: "Far-Reaching Smoke Is Raising the Costs of Wildfire Damages"
An op-ed by RFF Fellow Matthew Wibbenmeyer discusses the oft-overlooked damages associated with wildfire smoke.
Media Highlight — Jun 9, 2023
Semafor: "Lawmakers' Approach to the Insurance Crisis is Counterproductive"
A long-form newsletter about natural disaster insurance quotes RFF Senior Fellow Margaret Walls and cites two recent RFF papers.
