Fire risk refers to the probability and potential consequences of a fire occurring in a given area. Unlike fire danger, which reflects environmental and weather conditions that influence fire behavior, aspects of fire risk CAN be mitigated. Fire risk incorporates what's at stake, including the values, people, and assets exposed to that danger.
Scenario 1 — High Fire Danger, Low Fire Risk vast open grassland with no homes or infrastructure on a hot, dry, windy day. Despite the dangerous conditions, fire risk is low because there are no people, structures, or values at stake.
Scenario 2 — High Fire Danger, High Fire Risk Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) on a hot, dry, windy day. Here, the same dangerous fire conditions now translate to high risk because lives, homes, and infrastructure are exposed.
