ANNEX D: TOWN OF CARY
D.1.4 WILDFIRE Table D.5 summarizes the acreage in the Town of Cary that falls within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), categorized by housing density. The WUI is the area where housing development is built near or among areas of vegetation that may be prone to wildfire. Areas in the WUI are those where development may intermix with flammable vegetation. Over 12 percent of the Town of Cary is not included in the WUI. Table D.5 – Wildland Urban Interface Acreage, Town of Cary
Housing Density
Total Acreage
Percent of Total Acreage
Not in WUI
4,772.92
12.5%
LT 1hs/40ac
1,158.14
3.0%
1hs/40ac to 1hs/20ac
949.71
2.5%
1hs/20ac to 1hs/10ac
1,328.23
3.5%
1hs/10ac to 1hs/5ac
1,474.12
3.8%
1hs/5ac to 1hs/2ac
2,645.71
6.9%
1hs/2ac to 3hs/1ac
21,868.33
57.1%
GT 3hs/1ac
4,068.38
10.6%
Total
38,265.54
100%
Source: Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment
Figure D.5 depicts the WUI for the Town of Cary. Figure D.6 depicts the Fire Intensity Scale, which indicates the potential severity of fire based on fuel loads, topography, and other factors. Figure D.7 depicts Burn Probability based on landscape conditions, percentile weather, historical ignition patterns, and historical prevention and suppression efforts. Potential fire intensity is highest in west and northeast Cary; while these areas are within the WUI, these areas have lower burn probability. Because these areas fall within the WUI, there is development potentially at risk to wildfire. Table D.6 provides the count and estimated value of all structures that intersect with areas of the Town of Cary that are rated moderate to high on the WUI Risk Index. Table D.6 – Structures at Risk to Moderate-High WUI Risk Index, Town of Cary
Occupancy
Structures at Risk
Structure Value
Estimated Content Value
Total Value
Agriculture
23
$5,039,494
$5,039,494
$10,078,988
Commercial
1116
$3,179,564,684
$3,179,564,684
$6,359,129,368
Education
114
$853,097,093
$853,097,093
$1,706,194,186
Government
157
$422,454,168
$422,454,168
$844,908,336
Industrial
136
$237,096,864
$355,645,296
$592,742,160
Religious
128
$410,224,372
$410,224,372
$820,448,744
Residential
48433 50,107
$24,491,314,762 $29,598,791,437
$12,245,657,381
$36,736,972,143
Total
$17,471,682,488 $47,070,473,925
Source: Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment
Wake County, NC Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
WSP June 2024 Page 423
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