Western Travis County (Lakeway, Steiner Ranch, Spicewood, Bee Cave, Lago Vista) sits in the Hill Country Wildland-Urban Interface documented by TAMU Forest Service. The 2011 Steiner Ranch fire destroyed 23 homes; the same year Bastrop Complex fire (adjacent county) destroyed 1,660 homes. Insurers increasingly require defensible space and Class A roofing in these areas.
Travis County WUI covers steep canyons, cedar breaks, and limestone bluffs along the Colorado River west of MoPac. Fire behavior in Ashe juniper is explosive due to volatile oils and ladder fuel structure. TAMU-FS Community Wildfire Protection Plans exist for Lake Travis area, Steiner Ranch, and River Place. Key mitigation: Class A roofing (composition shingle, metal, tile), 1/8-inch ember-resistant attic vents, enclosed eaves, non-combustible 5-foot zone around structure, 30-foot defensible space. Travis County ESD 6 (Lake Travis Fire Rescue) and ESD 11 provide primary response. Evacuation routes are limited in Steiner Ranch and River Place; pre-evacuation planning is critical.
No mandatory WUI building code at county level (Texas counties cannot adopt building codes in most cases). Insurance consequences: policy non-renewal or premium increases for non-hardened homes. Civil liability for fire spreading from negligent property.
Pflugerville, TX
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Travis County, TX
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Travis County, TX
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Travis County, TX
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Travis County, TX
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Travis County, TX
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Travis County.
See how Pflugerville's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
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