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According to the 2013 State of Texas Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, wildfire is a <br />sweeping and destructive conflagration that can be defined as wildland, interface, <br />or intermix fires. Wildland fires are fueled almost exclusively by natural vegetation <br />while interface or intermix fires are urban/wildland fires in which vegetation and the <br />built-environment provide the fuel. While wildfires can occur anytime of the year, <br />they are most common in the spring and summer months. <br />Texas Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal (TxWRAP) is the primary mechanism for the Texas A&M Forest <br />Service to deploy risk information and create awareness about wildfire issues across the State. TxWRAP is <br />Risk Assessment <br />comprised of a suite of applications tailored to support specific workflow and information requirements <br />for the public, local community groups, government officials, professional hazard-mitigation planners, and <br />wildland fire managers. Collectively, these applications will provide the baseline information needed to <br />support mitigation and prevention efforts across the State. <br />TxWRAP also provides Characteristic Fire Intensity Scale (FIS), as seen in Table 2.30. The FIS determines <br />potential fire intensity based on high to extreme weather conditions, fuels, and topography where there <br />are 5 classes with a ten-fold order of magnitude between classes. <br />Very small, discontinuous flames, usually less than one foot in length; very low <br />Class 1 Very Low <br />rate of spread; no spotting. Fires are typically easy to suppress by firefighters <br />with basic training and non-specialized equipment. <br />Small flames, usually less than two feet long; small amount of very short <br />Class 2 Low <br />range spotting possible. Fires are easy to suppress by trained firefighters with <br />protective equipment and specialized tools. <br />Flames up to 8 feet in length; short-range spotting is possible. Trained <br />firefighters will find these fires difficult to suppress without support from <br />Class 3 Moderate <br />aircraft or engines, but dozer and plows are generally effective. Increasing <br />potential for harm or damage to life and property. <br />Large flames, up to 30 feet in length; short-range spotting common; medium <br />range spotting possible. Direct attack by trained firefighters, engines, and <br />Class 4 High <br />dozers is generally ineffective, indirect attack may be effective. Significant <br />potential for harm or damage to life and property. <br />Very large flames up to 150 feet in length; profuse short-range spotting, <br />frequent long-range spotting; strong fire-induced winds. Indirect attack <br />Class 5 Very High <br />marginally effective at the head of the fire. Great potential for harm or damage <br />to life and property. <br />(Texas A&M Forest Service, 2017) <br />Jurisdiction-specific data for location, previous occurrences, extent, probability, impact, and vulnerability <br />are found in jurisdiction annexes. <br />58 <br /> <br />