Home destruction within the Hayman Fire perimeter

The Hayman Fire report on home destruction examines the following four questions: 1. How many homes were destroyed out of the total number of homes within the Hayman Fire perimeter? 2. What was the relative wildland fire intensity associated with the destroyed homes? 3. What was the categorical cause of home ignition suggested by the associated wildland fire intensity adjacent to the home site? 4. Did community covenants and/or county regulations exist that suggest differences in the potential for home destruction? An onsite assessment at each destroyed home provided the principal information needed to address these questions. In addition, documentation and photographs during the fire, postfire aerial reconnaissance, and meetings and discussions with Federal and county personnel and local area residents contributed important information. Although we only specifically assessed the homes destroyed, surviving homes were considered when possible. Onsite assessments occurred 3 months after the Hayman Fire, at a time when much of the specific evidence describing the nature of home destruction and survival was lost. Discussions with fire personnel and residents indicate that most homes were not actively protected when the Hayman Fire burned the residential areas.