Maps, images and external links are also included to support the information in the assessment document and help to visually and geographically identify many of the components of the assessment, including infrastructure, access and egress issues, and wildland fire hazard severity zones, which are categorized as low, moderate or high severity.

Wildfires in Ventura County’s wildlands are a natural occurrence and can be a part of the process that helps maintain a healthy ecosystem for both plant and animal life. The “hazards” and “risks” discussed within the WRA are facilitated or created by human presence around, near and sometimes within these wildlands. It is important to note that while the document may reference “hazardous fuels,” it is not the wildland fuel itself that is the hazard. Rather, the hazard is created by the combination of homes built within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), in close proximity to wildland fuels, many without adequate or well-maintained defensible space, and especially older homes that were not built with wildfire safety in mind (materials, construction and landscaping). This fact, combined with the rugged terrain, increasingly hot, dry weather, and the seasonal appearance of “Santa Ana” winds that can exceed 70 mph, make wildfire safety projects an extremely high priority within Ventura County.

The WRA becomes the basis for the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which builds on the WRA to identify mitigation for the identified risks.