Earth, Wind, and Fire: Wildfire Risk Perceptions in a Hurricane-Prone Environment

Newman, Soren; Carroll, Matthew S.; Jakes, Pamela J.; Williams, Daniel; Higgins, Lorie

doi:10.1080/08941920.2014.918234

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Some research suggests that familiar risks are seen as less threatening than unknown or unfamiliar risks [53][54][55]. This might be due to the presence of economic benefits that outweigh potential risks [54,55], a sense of pride that makes members of the local community unwilling to admit to risks or concerns [56], or higher feelings of control over local and familiar risks [12,57]. However, other studies show that personal experiences with risky situations heighten perceptions and concerns about associated impacts [32,57,58].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change as an Involuntary Exposure: A Comparative Risk Perception Study from Six Countries across the Global Development Gradient

Gartin

Larson

Brewis

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Climate change has been referred to as an involuntary exposure, meaning people do not voluntarily put themselves at risk for climate-related ill health or reduced standard of living. The purpose of this study is to examine people’s risk perceptions and related beliefs regarding (1) the likelihood of different risks occurring at different times and places and (2) collective (government) responsibility and personal efficacy in dealing with climate change, as well as (3) explore the ways in which climate risk may be amplified when posed against individual health and well-being. Previous research on this topic has largely focused on one community or one nation state, and so a unique characteristic of this study is the comparison between six different city (country) sites by their development and national wealth. Here, we collected 401 surveys from Phoenix (USA), Brisbane (Australia), Wellington (New Zealand), Shanghai (China), Viti Levu (Fiji), and Mexico City (Mexico). Results suggest that the hyperopia effect characterized the sample from each study site but was more pronounced in developed sites, suggesting that the more developed sites employ a broader perspective when approaching ways to mitigate their risk against climate-related health and well-being impacts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change as an Involuntary Exposure: A Comparative Risk Perception Study from Six Countries across the Global Development Gradient

Gartin

Larson

Brewis

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Boulder and Larimer County experiences demonstrate that there can be long-term needs for rebuilding assistance and education. People who have not experienced wildfire may erroneously assume that recovery will be quick, especially in comparison with larger disasters (Newman et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recovery and adaptation after wildfire on the Colorado Front Range (2010–12)

Mockrin

Stewart

Radeloff

et al. 2016

Int. J. Wildland Fire

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Following the loss of homes to wildfire, when risk has been made apparent, homeowners must decide whether to rebuild, and choose materials and vegetation, while local governments guide recovery and rebuilding. As wildfires are smaller and more localised than other disasters, it is unclear if recovery after wildfire results in policy change and adaptation, decreasing assets at risk, or if recovery encourages reinvestment in hazard-prone areas. We studied three wildfires on the Colorado Front Range from 2010 to 2012 that each destroyed over 150 homes, describing policy response and characterising the built environment after wildfire. In each location, we found some adaptation, through better-mitigated homes and stronger building and vegetation mitigation standards, but also extensive reinvestment in hazard-prone environments, with governmental support. Despite suggestions that disaster can lead to substantial policy change and elevate the role of land-use planning, we saw only modest reforms: local governments did not revise land-use regulations; a statewide task force considered but did not require standards for building and vegetation mitigation; and only one jurisdiction strengthened its building and vegetation mitigation standards. Experiences in Colorado suggest that time after wildfire either does not provide extensive opportunities for adaptation in the built environment, or that these opportunities are easily missed.

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“…Many existing efforts examine how residents navigate competing risks, with a particular focus on identifying which factor(s) drive how residents prioritize or perceive these hazards. While quantitative studies suggest that basic demographic variables like gender, age and income influence household risk perceptions and responses in multi-hazard environments [32,33], qualitative studies highlight the importance of more nuanced factors, like past experience with hazards, local culture, and trust in organizations and agencies to mitigate and communicate risk [34,35]. Regardless of methodology, existing multi-hazard studies typically investigate how households negotiate different environmental risks (e.g., hurricanes, floods, chemical releases, wildfires), rather than a mix of environmental and health hazards [36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Navigating the Wildfire–Pandemic Interface: Public Perceptions of COVID-19 and the 2020 Wildfire Season in Arizona

Edgeley

Burnett

2020

Fire

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COVID-19 has complicated wildfire management and public safety for the 2020 fire season. It is unclear whether COVID-19 has impacted the ability of residents in the wildland–urban interface to prepare for and evacuate from wildfire, or the extent to which residents feel their household’s safety has been affected. Several areas with high wildfire risk are also experiencing record numbers of COVID-19 cases, including the state of Arizona in the southwestern United States. We conducted a mixed-mode survey of households in close proximity to two recent wildfires in rural Arizona to better understand whether residents living in the wildland–urban interface perceive COVID-19 as a factor in wildfire safety. Preliminary data suggest that the current challenges around collective action to address wildfire risk may be further exacerbated due to COVID-19, and that the current pandemic has potentially widened existing disparities in household capacity to conduct wildfire risk mitigation activities in the wildland–urban interface. Proactive planning for wildfire has also increased perceived ability to practice safe distancing from others during evacuation, highlighting the benefits that household planning for wildfire can have on other concurrent hazards. Parallels in both the wildfire and pandemic literature highlight vast opportunities for future research that can expand upon and advance our findings.

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Earth, Wind, and Fire: Wildfire Risk Perceptions in a Hurricane-Prone Environment

Cited by 17 publications

References 29 publications

Climate Change as an Involuntary Exposure: A Comparative Risk Perception Study from Six Countries across the Global Development Gradient

Climate Change as an Involuntary Exposure: A Comparative Risk Perception Study from Six Countries across the Global Development Gradient

Recovery and adaptation after wildfire on the Colorado Front Range (2010–12)

Navigating the Wildfire–Pandemic Interface: Public Perceptions of COVID-19 and the 2020 Wildfire Season in Arizona

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