N (2012) Trying not to get burned: understanding homeowners’ wildfire risk–mitigation behaviors (original) (raw)
Related papers
Trying Not to Get Burned: Understanding Homeowners’ Wildfire Risk–Mitigation Behaviors
Environmental Management, 2012
Three causes have been identified for the spiraling cost of wildfire suppression in the United States: climate change, fuel accumulation from past wildfire suppression, and development in fire-prone areas. Because little is likely to be performed to halt the effects of climate on wildfire risk, and because fuel-management budgets cannot keep pace with fuel accumulation let alone reverse it, changing the behaviors of existing and potential homeowners in fire-prone areas is the most promising approach to decreasing the cost of suppressing wildfires in the wildland-urban interface and increasing the odds of homes surviving wildfire events. Wildfire education efforts encourage homeowners to manage their property to decrease wildfire risk. Such programs may be more effective with a better understanding of the factors related to homeowners' decisions to undertake wildfire risk-reduction actions. In this study, we measured whether homeowners had implemented 12 wildfire risk-mitigation measures in 2 Colorado Front Range counties. We found that wildfire information received from local volunteer fire departments and county wildfire specialists, as well as talking with neighbors about wildfire, were positively associated with higher levels of mitigation. Firsthand experience in the form of preparing for or undertaking an evacuation was also associated with a higher level of mitigation. Finally, homeowners who perceived higher levels of wildfire risk on their property had undertaken higher levels of wildfire-risk mitigation on their property.
Insights Into Wildfire Mitigation Decisions Among Wildland–Urban Interface Residents
Society & Natural Resources, 2006
In-depth interviews conducted with homeowners in five Colorado wildland-urban interface communities reveal that the homeowners face difficult decisions regarding the reduction of wildfire risk. Rather than seeing risk reduction as straightforward, homeowners appear to be involved in a complex decision-making process with social considerations. The interviews shed light on the social context in which homeowners make wildfire mitigation decisions, participants' perceptions of how the biophysical landscape near their residences affects mitigation, and participants' perceptions of wildfire mitigation options.
Developing Behavioral and Evidence-Based Programs for Wildfire Risk Mitigation
Fire, 2020
The actions of residents in the wildland–urban interface can influence the private and social costs of wildfire. Wildfire programs that encourage residents to take action are often delivered without evidence of effects on behavior. Research from the field of behavioral science shows that simple, often low-cost changes to program design and delivery can influence socially desirable behaviors. In this research report, we highlight how behavioral science and experimental design may advance efforts to increase wildfire risk mitigation on private property. We offer an example in which we tested changes in outreach messaging on property owners’ interest in wildfire risk information. In partnership with a regional wildfire organization, we mailed 4564 letters directing property owners to visit personalized wildfire risk webpages. By tracking visitation, we observed that 590 letter recipients (12%) sought information about their wildfire risk and response varied by community. This research–...
An examination of the social-psychological drivers of homeowner wildfire mitigation
Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2020
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Comparison of homeowner response to wildfire risk among towns with and without wildfire management
Environmental Hazards, 2009
Few studies have examined the relationship between wildfire management by government agencies and homeowner wildfire risk mitigation. The goal of this paper is to compare perception of the wildfire risk, attribution of responsibility for mitigation, awareness of wildfire and mitigation, and adoption of wildfire mitigation activities among homeowners in towns where wildfire management activities have been completed by government (management group) and towns where no activities have been completed (no management group). Data were collected by mail survey of homeowners in six communities in Alberta, Canada during 2007. Results showed the people in the management group expressed higher levels of perceived risk and greater awareness of wildfire and mitigation than those in the no management group, but they did not attribute greater responsibility for mitigation to the homeowner nor complete more mitigation activities on their properties.
An analysis of homeowner and agency wildland fire mitigation strategies
2006
Four homeowner and agency wildland fire mitigation strategies were empirically examined in relation to three sets of causal influences. Two agency actions (prescribed fire and mechanical thinning) and two homeowner actions (defensible space and firewise construction) were analyzed against socio-demographic, situational and psychological precursors. Data were from a survey of Colorado residents (n = 532) living in the wildlandurban interface. Logistic regression indicated that the agency and homeowner actions had significantly different patterns of social causes and linkages. Results support the contention that socio-demographic, situational and psychological variables differentially influence support for agency or homeowner actions. Overall, the psychological measures were the most useful. Theoretically based models of natural resource policies can facilitate understanding the causal mechanisms that drive support for, or opposition to, wildland fire actions and improve policy development, situated communications and local community involvement strategies.
2000
The Public and Wildland Fire Management for managers can be applied in other regions where higher density urban and suburban interface communities abut high fuel-hazard forests. Public education and outreach efforts about fuel-hazard reduction planning need to be increased well in advance of changing forest management. Because our study found that those who were more familiar with techniques, such as prescribed fire, supported them more strongly, managers need to get the word out early about the benefits and risks associated with each technique. Multiple strategies for reaching the public should be considered, including newspapers, television, and radio. After the initial outreach, demonstration projects, such as a small-scale prescribed burn, can be used to increase the public' s experience with new management techniques. Demonstration projects are the perfect setting for teaching the public about the need to manage the forest. Wildland-urban interface communities are different, even in the same region, so managers need to tailor implementation strategies to the particular area. For example, in higher density, less natural
1 Title: Is there a link between actual and perceived wildfire danger? Author and Affiliation
2015
Over the last 20 years, costs for wildfire initial attack in the U.S. have increased significantly. The increased cost relates to wildfire suppression practices as well as the growing number of wildland urban interface (WUI) homes. Requiring WUI residents to pay an annual tax for their wildfire risk would lower costs to the general taxpayer. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) for wildfire prevention, in relation to both perceived and actual wildfire danger, was the focus of this study. Colorado WUI residents had a high awareness of wildfire risk and were willing to pay over $400 annually to reduce this risk. Respondents beliefs about wildfire frequency were comparable to the original natural wildfire regimes of their areas pre-European settlement. Keywords: GIS; wildfire risk; stakeholder; contingent valuation; Colorado.
Journal of Environmental Management, 2009
An important policy question receiving considerable attention concerns the risk perception-risk mitigation process that guides how individuals choose to address natural hazard risks. This question is considered in the context of wildfire. We analyze the factors that influence risk reduction behaviors by homeowners living in the wildland-urban interface. The factors considered are direct experience, knowledge of wildfire risk, locus of responsibility, fulltime/seasonal status, and self-efficacy. Survey data from three homeowner associations in the western U.S. are used to estimate the direct and indirect effects of this relationship. Our results indicate that the effects of knowledge and locus of responsibility are mediated by homeowners' risk perceptions. We also find that beliefs of self-efficacy and fulltime/ seasonal status have a direct influence on risk reduction behaviors. Finally, we find, surprisingly, that direct experience with wildfire does not directly influence the risk perception-risk mitigation process.