Wildland urban interface (WUI) areas — where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland — are vulnerable to wildfires.
The destruction caused by wildfires can be exploited by criminals and, because of the minimal resources required and the potential for widespread damage, foreign terrorist organizations encourage arson attacks in WUI areas.
First Responder's Toolbox
The National Counterterrorism Center's Joint Counterterrorism Assessment Team (JCAT) has released a new First Responder's Toolbox: Mitigating the Threat of Terrorist-Initiated Arson Attacks on Wildland-Urban Interface Areas PDF. This new asset includes:
- An overview of observable tactics, techniques, and procedures likely to be employed by those preparing to conduct an arson attack.
- Planning, prevention, and response
- Historical criminal and terrorist activity related to arson in the WUI.
- Links to additional resources.
Publicly available toolboxes
One can access this First Responder’s Toolbox, as well as all other publicly available toolboxes in the series, at JCAT's website.
The entire First Responder's Toolbox series, including those designated For Official Use Only (FOUO), are available on the Emergency Services and Intelligence Communities of Interest on the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN).