Homeowners associations as promising structures for wildfire risk reduction : the Hawken and Caughlin fires in Caughlin Ranch, Nevada
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Date
2014
Authors
University of Oregon. Ecosystem Workforce Program
Journal Title
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Publisher
Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon
Abstract
Local organizations can play a prominent role in wildfire preparedness, response, and recovery. The Caughlin Ranch community experienced two destructive fires–the Hawken Fire in 2007 and the Caughlin Fire in 2011–which together burned a total of 4,645 acres. Both fires resulted in neighborhood evacuations, and the Caughlin Fire produced significant damage to homes in a nearby subdivision. The Caughlin Ranch Homeowners Association is a major community-level organization that plays a substantial role in regulating landscapes, building materials, and appropriate development in the Caughlin Ranch community. It operates within the context of other local, state, and national organizations, all of which play a role in fire response and risk mitigation. This case demonstrates the potential for homeowners associations to incentivize risk mitigation in wildfire-prone communities by assuming greater responsibility for wildfire protection in development and maintenance codes, covenants, and restrictions.
Description
2 pages