Introduction to Urban Trees, Fire Behavior and Zone 0 (Part 1)
This is the first of a three-part series.
As wildfire impacts continue to grow across communities, arborists and urban foresters are increasingly called upon to assess, reduce, and communicate wildfire risk. In this introductory session of the Wildfire and the Urban Forest series, we will explore the role urban trees and vegetation play in wildfire behavior, focusing on the pathways of ignition and spread in urban areas and the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI).
Introduction to Urban Trees, Fire Behavior and Zone 0 introduces fire science basics and the principles of defensible space around homes and structures. You’ll gain an understanding of wildfire ignition and spread and how tree placement and proximity to structures can influence wildfire risk. Through real-world examples and experience, you will gain a deeper understanding how ember exposure, nearby fuels, and edge-of-structure conditions affect the vulnerability of homes and community trees.
Whether you’re developing management plans, responding to concerned community members, or shaping community wildfire preparedness efforts, this session will provide practical, science-based insights to support informed decision-making about trees and wildfire risk.
Join this webinar to strengthen your understanding of wildfire risk in urban areas and strategies to develop fire-wise communities and trees.
At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:
- Explain how trees and near‑structure fuels can contribute to wildfire spread and structure ignition in WUI and urban contexts.
- Describe the basic pathways of ignition (including ember exposure) and how vegetation can catch fire and transmit risk toward structures.
- Identify high‑risk tree/structure proximity scenarios and discuss defensible, practical vegetation management considerations near buildings.
Thank you to Dudek for supporting this Wildfire and the Urban Forest series
This webinar is approved for one ISA CEU.
Registration coming soon!