Framework / Assessment California Forests and Rangelands: 2015 Assessment Summary The interface between a developed area and a naturally-vegetated (e.g., forested) area is called the wildland-urban interface (WUI). Communities may be large and varied enough so that the hazard rating for fires varies within the WUI. High hazard areas are those that are highly susceptible to fire ignition or spread, which is a function of vegetation type & distribution, moisture, and other factors (e.g., topography).