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The Wildfire Index measures an area’s social vulnerability to and biophysical risk of wildfires.
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It categorises areas as vulnerable or not vulnerable for the Summer months in the UK.
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Vulnerability is determined by:
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- Social vulnerability: a community’s adaptive capacity and sensitivity to wildfires. It includes housing conditions, ethnic composition, disability levels, education levels, linguistic capabilities, geographic mobility, housing ownership and age demographics.
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- Biophysical risk of wildfire: the likelihood of a wildfire occurring. This is based on historic fire occurrences (2001 – 2022 data) and biophysical factors including topography, climate, vegetation cover and anthropogenic factors.
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Each area is given a social vulnerability and biophysical risk score. Areas that fall in the top 20% of both high social vulnerability and high risk of wildfire are categorised as vulnerable.
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Note that in the UK, wildfires are defined by The Forestry Commission as “any uncontrolled vegetation fire which requires a decision, or action, regarding suppression”. This includes primary wildfires, that amongst other conditions can occur in a building, vehicle or outdoor structure, and woodland fires. The UK government recognises wildfires as a semi-natural hazard as they do not occur in wildlands and due to their close links with human activities.

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