More Homes in the U.S. Damaged by Grassland and Shrubland Fires than Forest Fires

While forest fires can cause enormous damage, another type of fire is deemed the most destructive in the United States.

Between 1990 and 2020, approximately 64 percent or nearly 11,000 of homes ravaged by wildfires in the contiguous United States were destroyed by grassland and shrubland fires, according to a study reported on Nov. 10 in Science.

Ecologist Volker Radeloff from the University of Wisconsin-Madison explains that while forest fires often capture the headlines due to their dramatic scale and intensity, fires in grasslands and shrublands are equally destructive. For example, the Lahaina fire in 2023 in Maui, Hawaii, which was fueled by invasive wild grasses, resulted in a loss of at least 98 lives and destroyed around 2,200 properties.

Radeloff and his team compiled and analyzed 30 years of data related to wildfire occurrence, land use, and housing to gain a better understanding of the factors that contribute to such destructive fires.

They discovered that from 1990 to 2020, approximately 337,000 square kilometers of grasslands and shrublands were consumed, compared to about 144,000 square kilometers by forest fires. While forest fires were twice as likely to demolish homes, the vastly larger area covered by grassland and shrubland fires contributed to their overall destructive status.

The study also revealed the significant increase in U.S. wildfire risk. Currently, nearly 148,000 homes are located in past wildfire zones, more than doubling the number since 1990. Approximately half of these additional homes were constructed on already burnt land prior to 1990, while the remaining homes survived past fires.

Radeloff advises more individuals to acknowledge their wildfire risk and take preventive steps, which may include preparing evacuation plans or fireproofing their properties. Simply relocating away from forest areas isn't enough for wildfire safety.

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