A new UC study reveals that the number of roads out of a community is a key predictor of wildfire fatalities, with six exits as a critical threshold. - 17.7 million Americans live in communities with fewer than six exits.
- 5 million of those face high wildfire hazard. - 528 communities have no major road exits at all.
- High-risk hotspots exist in Oklahoma, Florida, and Hawai'i, not just the West. The findings underscore the need for better evacuation planning and infrastructure improvements to save lives.