SECTION 4: RISK ASSESSMENT
A small portion, approximately 7 percent, of Wake County may experience up to a Class 4 Fire Intensity, which poses significant harm or damage to life and property. Over 22 percent of Wake County may experience Class 3 Fire Intensity, which has potential for harm to life and property but is easier to suppress with dozer and plows. The remainder of the county is either non-burnable (24.9%) or would face a Class 1 or Class 2 Fire Intensity (45.3%), which are easily suppressed.
Impact: 2 – Limited
Spatial Extent: 3 – Moderate HISTORICAL OCCURRENCES
The North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) began keeping records of fire occurrence on private and state- owned lands in 1928. Since this time, there has been an average of approximately 4,063 fires burning more than 104,000 acres annually. Recently, within the last 10 years, the State has averaged closer to 4,291 fires per year and 14,043 acres burned annually. Table 4.125 lists past occurrences of wildfire in Wake County since 2009 as provided by the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) in March 2024. This data only accounts for occurrences within unincorporated Wake County, which fall under the NCFS jurisdiction, as well as larger events in incorporated areas where local fire departments requested NCFS support for fire suppression. Actual number of fires and acreage burned are higher than what can be reported here. Table 4.125 – Records for Wildfire in Wake County, 2009-2023 Year Number of Fires Acreage Burned 2009 2 17.3 2010 21 130.2 2011 17 225.0 2012 13 101.0 2013 1 2.5 2014 3 5.1 2015 3 32.1 2016 23 75.4 2017 27 148.3 2018 11 40.2 2019 11 37.8 2020 3 7.5 2021 8 7.6 2022 13 38.3 2023 17 30.7 Total 153 899 Source: NC Forest Service Wake County experienced prolonged periods of severe drought in 2010, 2011, 2021, 2022 as well as moderate drought in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023. These periods of drought may explain some of the annual variation in fires and acreage burned. On average, Wake County experiences 10.2 fires and 59.9 acres burned annually from fires that require the North Carolina Forest Service to respond. Actual number of fires and acreage burned is likely higher because smaller fires within jurisdictional boundaries are managed by local fire departments.
Wake County, NC Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
WSP June 2024 Page 236
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