Growth Pressure, Lack Of Planning Aggravate Fire Risks

Residents continue to inundate fire-prone areas of the west even after last fall’s devastating fires claimed 25 lives and more than 3,600 homes

1 minute read

February 7, 2004, 11:00 AM PST

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech

Many people think of earthquakes as the most threatening environmental hazard in the western U.S., but last years destructive wildfires show another serious concern for areas of the west seeing explosive growth and expansion. Hundreds of thousands of residents continue to push outwards into "wildland-urban interface" areas on the metropolitan fringes seeking the beauty of natural surroundings while maintaining proximity to urban amenities. Lack of suitable community planning and public policy regulations in some burgeoning areas are putting tens of thousands of homes at risk.

Thanks to Janet Boyko

Read the full story: Risk doesn't deter growth in fire-prone areas

Tuesday, February 3, 2004 in USA Today

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