What happens to vegetation in areas where fire is suppressed in the WUI?

In areas where fire is suppressed in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), vegetation typically increases, which can lead to a buildup of fuel for future fires. When fire suppression efforts are employed, they often focus on stopping the fire from spreading, but without natural fire regimes to periodically clear out dead plant material and thin dense vegetation, the amount of fuel can accumulate. Over time, this increased vegetation density, coupled with the dying off of older plants that aren't cleared out by fire, creates a situation where conditions can become ripe for more intense wildfires.

Additionally, fire plays a crucial ecological role in certain ecosystems by promoting the health of various plant species and maintaining a balance among different plant communities. Without these natural fire processes, an imbalance can occur, leading to a greater proliferation of particularly flammable plant species, which further increases the risk of severe fires in the area. Therefore, understanding this dynamic is key to effective wildfire risk management and mitigation strategies in the WUI.