Post-Wildfire Field Investigations
IBHS conducts field investigations following wildfires to document impacts, identify ignition pathways and structural vulnerabilities, and evaluate the performance of materials and mitigation measures.
These studies reveal community-scale patterns and provide critical insights that inform research, mitigation strategies, and best practices for property owners, communities, and policymakers.
With one-third of U.S. homes located in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI)—where development meets wildfire-prone landscapes—this work is increasingly urgent.
Research & Analysis
This research compares wildfire impacts across different types of communities, including those designed with wildfire-resistant principles and those without. By analyzing factors such as housing density, building codes, construction details, proximity to wildfire, wind conditions, slope, and vegetation, IBHS identified the conditions that most strongly influence whether homes survive.
The study also integrates social research to better understand what motivates homeowners in wildfire-prone areas to take protective action—and what barriers prevent others from doing so.
Together, these findings highlight a clear takeaway: both how we build and how we maintain our properties—and communities—play a decisive role in reducing wildfire risk.
Read the executive summary for key insights, or explore the full report for detailed data, analysis, and recommendations.
2025 Los Angeles County Wildfires
On January 7–8, 2025, the Palisades and Eaton Fires became examples of catastrophic urban conflagration. Fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and drought conditions, the fires ignited just outside densely populated areas and spread rapidly through connective fuels, driving structure-to-structure ignition across multiple Los Angeles County communities.
Research: Learn More
2023 Lahaina Conflagration – Hawaii
On August 8, 2023, a grassfire outside Lahaina, Hawaii, grew into the deadliest natural disaster in the state’s history and one of the ten deadliest U.S. wildfires since 1871. The fire claimed 102 lives and damaged or destroyed approximately 2,153 structures, with reconstruction costs estimated at $5.5 billion.
IBHS teams collected detailed post-fire data on building materials, vegetation, and structure spacing to understand how community-level factors contributed to the conflagration.
Research: Learn More
2017 & 2018 California Wildfires
The Camp Fire of November 2018 was the most deadly and costly wildfire in California history. Extreme weather, fuel conditions, and topography created a worst-case scenario that devastated entire communities.
Following the fire, IBHS and several member companies conducted a post-event investigation to analyze factors contributing to these destructive fires and assess how mitigation and construction practices performed
Research: Learn More
2013 Black Bear Cub Fire in Tennessee
On March 17, 2013, a cabin fire in the Black Bear Ridge Resort community of Sevier County, Tennessee, spread rapidly, destroying 53 cabins and damaging 20 more. IBHS field investigators reviewed the event to identify construction and vegetation management strategies that could reduce future wildfire losses in similar resort-style developments.
Insights: Learn More
2012 Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado
The destructive 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs, CO destroyed nearly 350 homes, forced more than 30,000 evacuations, and burned over 18,000 acres. IBHS participated in The Fire Adapted Communities Mitigation Assessment Team—alongside experts from the USDA Forest Service, International Association of Fire Chiefs, NFPA, The Nature Conservancy, and others—to evaluate the effectiveness of local wildfire mitigation efforts. Through field visits, interviews, and on-the-ground assessments, the team compiled key findings and recommendations in a detailed lessons learned report and companion video.
Research: Lessons Learned from Waldo Canyon Fire
2007 Witch Creek Fire
IBHS also conducted an independent study of the Witch Creek Wildfire, producing the landmark report “Mega Fires: The Case for Mitigation.”
The research compared traditionally designed neighborhoods to wildfire-resistant communities, assessing the effects of housing density, building materials, and vegetation on wildfire losses.
Research: Mega Fires: The Case for Mitigation
