Rebuilding and new residential development following a destructive wildfire: a 10-year wildland–urban interface case study in Texas, United States

Background In the aftermath of a wildland–urban interface (WUI) wildfire, documenting subsequent reconstruction can help anticipate the consequences of future destructive events. Aims This case study chronicles the post-disaster rebuilding patterns of the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF), the most destructive wildfire in the history of Texas, United States. Methods By analyzing tax account records from 2011 to 2021, we assess single-family home rebuilding rates and examine the disaster’s impact on single-family lot sales. Key results By 2021, the fire-impacted area had been rebuilt as a WUI residential development with more single-family homes within the fire perimeter than had existed in 2011. While new development within the fire perimeter accounted for some of the buildings at risk, single-family home construction was disproportionately focused on single-family lots containing a destroyed building. Single-family lots within the fire perimeter, whether destroyed or not, were more likely to be sold at least once during the period 2011–2021. Conclusions Our study is the first to document the post-wildfire rebuilding patterns of the most destructive Texas wildfire. Implications In the decade following the 2011 wildfire, Bastrop County’s WUI was rebuilt and expanded. This could increase future wildfire losses unless the community incorporates effective mitigation measures.