NIST Wildfire Expert Honored as Research Shapes Community Safety Plans and Building Codes

A federal fire engineer whose work is helping communities across the U.S. better prepare for wildfires has been recognized with one of the highest honors for public service. As wildfires grow more intense and unpredictable, new research is influencing how neighborhoods plan evacuations, build homes, and prepare for future threats.

Alex Maranghides, a fire protection engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has spent more than two decades studying some of the most destructive wildfires in U.S. history, including the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California. His work has led to practical tools that help local leaders understand fire behavior, evaluate evacuation timelines, and assess structural vulnerabilities. In recognition of this public impact, Maranghides has been named a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal honoree.

His team’s findings are increasingly relevant as communities continue expanding into wildland-urban interface (WUI) zones—areas where forest meets development. These regions face higher risk from wildfires, which are now affecting not just the Western U.S., but also places like South Carolina and Massachusetts. Maranghides’ research shows that in densely built neighborhoods, one home’s vulnerability—such as unsealed garage trim or nearby fuel sources—can jeopardize entire blocks if mitigation isn’t coordinated across properties.

Evacuation strategy is another critical focus. NIST’s updated ESCAPE report helps small towns assess whether they can safely evacuate in time. If not, it guides officials on using open spaces like parking lots or golf courses as emergency fire refuge areas. The key, researchers emphasize, is preparation: drills, interagency coordination, public education, and physical signage must all be in place before a fire starts.

To make the science accessible, Maranghides and his colleagues have condensed their detailed technical work into practical materials for use by fire chiefs and local governments, including a free online training module. Beyond homes and evacuation plans, their experimental studies—conducted in collaboration with CAL FIRE and others—are informing new building code recommendations by identifying how much separation is needed between structures like sheds and houses to prevent fire spread.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from a press release issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Video Spotlight