An Examination of the Influence of Hazard Experience on Wildfire Risk Perceptions and Adoption of Mitigation Measures

McGee, Tara K.; McFarlane, Bonita L.; Varghese, Jeji

doi:10.1080/08941920801910765

Cited by 173 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…These findings support previous studies which found that people tend to implement cheap measures that are easily carried out McGee et al 2009;Mileti et al 1992), and that it is less common for people to make structural changes to their homes (McGee et al 2009). This failure could perhaps be overcome by providing grants to low-income residents to help with the costs of implementing these measures.…”

Section: Most and Least Implemented Mitigation Measuressupporting

confidence: 92%

“…It has become clear that people often do not realize that they are at risk and are not adequately preparing their properties to withstand fire (J. McLennan et al 2015;Morrison et al 2014). People tend to most often implement the actions that are least expensive and easiest to accomplish (Absher et al 2009;Brenkert-Smith et al 2006;McGee et al 2009;Mileti et al 1992). It is important for fire authorities and government officials to understand the factors affecting people's mitigation decisions so they can motivate people in fire-prone areas to better mitigate and become more prepared.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Does Place Attachment Predict Wildfire Mitigation and Preparedness? A Comparison of Wildland–Urban Interface and Rural Communities

Anton

Lawrence

2015

Environmental Management

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Wildfires are a common occurrence in many countries and are predicted to increase as we experience the effects of climate change. As more people are expected to be affected by fires, it is important to increase people's wildfire mitigation and preparation. Place attachment has been theorized to be related to mitigation and preparation. The present study examined place attachment and wildfire mitigation and preparation in two Australian samples, one rural and one on the wildland-urban interface. The study consisted of 300 participants who responded to questionnaires about their place attachment to their homes and local areas, as well as describing their socio-demographic characteristics and wildfire mitigation and preparedness. Hierarchical regression showed that place attachment to homes predicted wildfire mitigation and preparedness in the rural sample but not in the wildland-urban interface sample. The results suggest that place attachment is a motivator for mitigation and preparation only for people living rurally. Reminding rural residents of their attachment to home at the beginning of wildfire season may result in greater mitigation and preparedness. Further research focusing on why attachment does not predict mitigation and preparedness in the wildland-urban interface is needed.

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Section: Most and Least Implemented Mitigation Measuressupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Does Place Attachment Predict Wildfire Mitigation and Preparedness? A Comparison of Wildland–Urban Interface and Rural Communities

Anton

Lawrence

2015

Environmental Management

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“…Another influencing factor in mitigation behavior has been homeowners' interactions with agencies and organizations involved in wildfire education and outreach (Dickinson et al 2015), including membership in forestry or fire protection organizations , participation in natural resource-related planning efforts (Bihari and Ryan 2012), involvement in homeowner associations in locations where wildfire risk is a concern (McCaffrey et al 2011), and living in neighborhoods where wildfire mitigation programs have been implemented (McGee et al 2009). Broader public education and outreach efforts also have been linked with an increased likelihood of mitigation (Schulte andMiller 2010, McCaffrey et al 2011).…”

Section: Factors Influencing Mitigation Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the influence of biophysical conditions on wildland–urban interface homeowners’ wildfire risk mitigation activities in fire-prone landscapes

Olsen¹,

Kline²,

Ager³

et al. 2017

E&S

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ABSTRACT. Expansion of the wildland-urban interface (WUI) and the increasing size and number of wildfires has policy-makers and wildfire managers seeking ways to reduce wildfire risk in communities located near fire-prone forests. It is widely acknowledged that homeowners can reduce their exposure to wildfire risk by using nonflammable building materials and reducing tree density near the home, among other actions. Although these actions can reduce the vulnerability of homes to wildfire, many homeowners do not take them. We examined the influence of risk factors on homeowners' perceived wildfire risk components using a survey of WUI homeowners in central Oregon (USA) and biophysical data that described wildfire risk as predicted by wildfire simulation models, past wildfire, and vegetation characteristics. Our analysis included homeowners' perceptions of the likelihood of wildfire and resulting damage, and examined how these factors contribute to homeowners' likelihood to conduct mitigation actions. We developed an empirical model of homeowners' risk perceptions and mitigation behavior, which served as input into an agent-based model to examine potential landscape and behavior changes over 50 years. We found homeowners' wildfire risk perceptions to be positively correlated with hazardous conditions predicted by fuel models and weakly predictive of mitigation behavior. Homeowners' perceived chance of wildfire was positively correlated with actual probability of wildfire, while their perceived chance of damage to the home was positively correlated with potential wildfire intensity. Wildfire risk perceptions also were found to be correlated with past wildfire experience. Our results suggest that homeowners may be savvy observers of landscape conditions, which act as "feedbacks" that enhance homeowners' concerns about wildfire hazard and motivate them to take mitigation action. Alternatively, homeowners living in hazardous locations are somehow receiving the message that they need to take protective measures. Mitigation compliance output from the agent-based model suggests that completion of mitigation actions is likely to increase over 50 years under various scenarios.

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“…Unlike in other parts of the world such as Canada where lightning is the major cause of ignition (18), in the study area, ignition of fires is predominantly anthropogenic -stems from use of fires for clearing agricultural land, hunting, warding off animals from crop fields and removing underbrush to improve pasture [18,19]. The seasonal climate (high temperature, high velocity winds and low humidity), seasonal supply of dry biomass (grass and leaf litter) as fuel and terrain conditions (slope and aspect) promote the spread of runaway fires [20][21][22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mazowe district, has had the highest number of reported cases of wildfires in the province over the years and was regarded as falling within extreme wildfire hazard (10) yet it has the highest agricultural yield (7). The EMA responded to the runaway veld fire problem by introducing intervention measures such as firebreaks, fire awareness campaigns, reduction of fuel load by hay bailing, fines and institutional structures among others in 2009 [10,18] but the fire problem persisted as evidenced by an increase in burnt area, continued outbreaks and direct loss of human lives from fire events. Farmers in the study area, regardless of tenure, are highly vulnerable to frequent fires [10,32] as most of them lack the capacity to contend with the damage inflicted to their high valued environmental resources and assets [12,13,32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of Veld Fire Hazard Zones in Multiple Tenure Systems in Zimbabwe: Implications for Intervention

Maponga¹,

Ahmed²,

Manatsa³

2017

eer

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The study determined fire hazard zones in multiple tenure systems from 2001 to 2013 in Mazowe district, Zimbabwe, using Landsat 7 and 8 30m resolution images, a fire hazard model and weighted sum of burnt area. The model divided the district into high, moderate and low fire hazard zones across five tenure systems that obtain. Most of the district (50%) was in the high hazard zone. Fire events superimposed onto the zones confirmed that most of the fire events (60%) occurred in the high hazard zone. The weighted sum of burnt area revealed that 47% of the study area was not burnt. The level of fire risk in terms of pasture per livestock unit was substantially high. At 1% of land burnt four times in A2 and Communal systems involved losses of 2784 and 1682 livestock units' worth of pasture respectively. The hazard zones show hotspots needing monitoring, fire problem occurring irrespective of tenure and that the problem could be addressed. The study recommends setting up a fire command centre, involving all parties, urgent attention to the fire problem across tenure and adoption practices such as law enforcement, hierarchical structures and participation of grassroots communities in addressing the fire problem.

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An Examination of the Influence of Hazard Experience on Wildfire Risk Perceptions and Adoption of Mitigation Measures

Cited by 173 publications

References 14 publications

Does Place Attachment Predict Wildfire Mitigation and Preparedness? A Comparison of Wildland–Urban Interface and Rural Communities

Does Place Attachment Predict Wildfire Mitigation and Preparedness? A Comparison of Wildland–Urban Interface and Rural Communities

Examining the influence of biophysical conditions on wildland–urban interface homeowners’ wildfire risk mitigation activities in fire-prone landscapes

Determination of Veld Fire Hazard Zones in Multiple Tenure Systems in Zimbabwe: Implications for Intervention

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An Examination of the Influence of Hazard Experience on Wildfire Risk Perceptions and Adoption of Mitigation Measures

Cited by 173 publications

References 14 publications

Does Place Attachment Predict Wildfire Mitigation and Preparedness? A Comparison of Wildland–Urban Interface and Rural Communities

Does Place Attachment Predict Wildfire Mitigation and Preparedness? A Comparison of Wildland–Urban Interface and Rural Communities

Examining the influence of biophysical conditions on wildland&#8211;urban interface homeowners&#8217; wildfire risk mitigation activities in fire-prone landscapes

Determination of Veld Fire Hazard Zones in Multiple Tenure Systems in Zimbabwe: Implications for Intervention

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Examining the influence of biophysical conditions on wildland–urban interface homeowners’ wildfire risk mitigation activities in fire-prone landscapes