Northwest Austin Edition | April 2025

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Wildre risk in Northwest Austin Many properties have an “elevated” or “above” risk of being impacted by wildres. Residential properties with "elevated" or "above" risk Commercial properties with "elevated" or "above" risk

Measuring the impact

Staying prepared

Landi said some residents may not have a choice on certain building materials but can still look for ways to be proactive. “It’s a tough one to go into neighborhoods and discuss that,” Landi said. “They don’t realize a re a mile away can really aect them.” Residents can also request a free Structural Ignition Zone Evaluation where an AFD Wildre Division adviser walks the exterior of a home and oers individualized wildre preparedness suggestions, Dibrell said. The department did 176 evaluations last year, he said. This year, there have been nearly 500 requests so far, with many coming from the Northwest Austin area. “They may not be able to aect the fuel load on the other side of their fence that might belong to a park or something like that, … but they can always aect how their home is prepared,” Dibrell said. Protecting homes, families from wildres

Wildres have continued to increase construc- tion costs, from materials and labor to insurance, Oliver Custom Homes owner Paul Oliver said. The current WUI Code states any properties that back up to a greenbelt must use nonam- mable building materials, but some insurance companies that provide builders risk insurance policies won’t insure homes in areas with high wildre risk, he said. Some homeowners outside city limits are will- ing to spend the extra money on these materials to try and keep insurance premiums down or receive discounts, he said. “Homeowners are looking for that because they don’t have the re departments that we have here in the city, and they don’t have the re mitigation [or] even the water supplies,” Oliver said.

Percent of properties with wildre risk*

0% 5% 10% 30% 20% 25% 15%

78729 78750

78727

78758

78759

SOURCE: AFD RESEARCH & DATA ANALYTICS, AFD WILDFIRE DIVISIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

*AS OF MARCH 20

Emergency preparedness pop-ups

Get involved

Keep gutters clean and install gutter guards. Plant drought-tolerant and re- resistant plants.

There are currently 24 Firewise communities in Austin with 72 more engaged in the process, per the AFD Wildre Division. While home hardening is great for wildre defense, Dibrell said talking to neighbors to create an overall “resilient commu- nity” is even better. One such community is the Great Hills safety committee, originated by resident Wren Foster. Foster’s goal is for the Great Hills Home Owners Association to adopt a wildre reduction policy, which would include rules for using nonammable building materials, clearing debris and limiting the amount of hazardous materials per property.

The Austin Emergency Management Oce hosts monthly pop-ups that include information on how to prepare for wildres and what to do during an evacuation.

Austin Public Library Spicewood Springs Branch (District 6)

June 18

Trim shrubs below windows.

Regularly remove brush from the property. Keep essential items such as house titles, passports, insurance and tax information in a reproof safe.

Austin Public Library Old Quarry Branch (District 10)

Oct. 15

SOURCE: AUSTIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

“Travis County is going to experience wildres, but how large they are really depends on our actions now,” Foster said.

SOURCE: JOLLYVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

IT’S YOUR TIME Find Your Future With ACC

austincc.edu

Roosevelt G.

NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION