Social vulnerability of the people exposed to wildfires in U.S. West Coast states

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Understandingof the vulnerabilityof populationsexposedto wildfires is limited.We usedan index from the U.S.Centersfor DiseaseControl and Preventionto assessthe socialvulnerabilityof populationsexposedto wildfirefrom 2000–2021in California,Oregon,and Washington,whichaccountedfor 90%of exposures in the westernUnitedStates. The numberof peopleexposedto fire from 2000–2010to 2011–2021increasedsubstantially, withthe largest increase,nearly250%,for peoplewithhighsocialvulnerability. In Oregonand Washington,a higherpercentageof exposedpeoplewere highlyvulnerable (>40%)thanin California(~8%).Increasedsocialvulner-abilityof populationsin burnedareas was the primarycontributorto increasedexposure of the highlyvulner-able in California,whereas encroachmentof wildfires on vulnerable populationswas the primarycontributorinOregonand Washington.Our resultsemphasizethe importanceof integrating the vulnerabilityof at-riskpop-ulationsin wildfire mitigation and adaptation plans.