The intersection of socioeconomic status and wildfire risk: Insights from California

Wildfires in California have increased over the past 20 years, raising serious concerns. Due to the significant damage these fires cause to the environment, infrastructure, and communities, it is essential for policymakers and researchers to find effective ways to reduce their impact. This study aims to improve our understanding of wildfires by examining the relationship between population density, wildfire severity, and socioeconomic factors like average household income. The research uses socioeconomic data from the California State Geoportal (CA.gov) and fire severity zones from ArcGIS Hub. Statistical methods, such as ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and correlation analysis, were applied using ArcGIS Pro software from the Environmental Systems Research Institute. This study confirms earlier findings that there is no correlation between population density and wildfire severity. This conclusion is based on a more detailed analysis that moves from the county level to the census tract level. Additionally, we found no connection between socioeconomic status and fire severity, though we did observe a clear link between socioeconomic status and the likelihood of fires starting. Both OLS and correlation analysis supported these results. However, a hot-spot analysis showed that areas with the lowest-income households are also the regions with the most severe wildfires. This suggests a concerning relationship between lower-income communities and increased vulnerability to wildfires. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions and a fair distribution of resources to address the socioeconomic inequalities that contribute to wildfire risk.