Catching Fire? Social Interactions, Beliefs, and Wildfire Risk Mitigation Behaviors

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

“…A number of studies have suggested that homeowners located in fire-prone wildland-urban interface areas tend to understand that their homes are at risk of wildfire and do conduct at least some risk mitigation activities as a result (e.g., Nelson et al 2004, Brenkert-Smith et al 2006, McCaffrey 2008, Steelman 2008, Kyle et al 2010, Dickinson et al 2015. These findings appear to be consistent across geographic locations and different research methodologies (McCaffrey and Olsen 2012).…”

“…This largely has been confirmed by studies that have examined landowners' and homeowners' self-reported perceptions of their own general level of exposure to wildfire risk (McCaffrey et al 2011, Dickinson et al 2015. Protection Motivation Theory also suggests that individuals are more likely to mitigate risk for threatening events based on their perceptions of the probability and severity of an event and associated outcomes (risk perceptions) and their ability to take protection actions (Rogers 1983).…”

“…Protection Motivation Theory also suggests that individuals are more likely to mitigate risk for threatening events based on their perceptions of the probability and severity of an event and associated outcomes (risk perceptions) and their ability to take protection actions (Rogers 1983). This perspective is reflected in studies that have examined perceived wildfire risk and its influence on mitigation behavior in terms of individual risk components: wildfire likelihood and potential wildfire severity (Hall and Slothower 2009, McCaffrey et al 2011, McNeill et al 2013, Dickinson et al 2015. However, recent research also suggests merit in considering the role of modeled or objective wildfire risk in shaping wildfire risk perceptions .…”

“…Contact with certain information sources also has been correlated with perceived wildfire risk. Specifically, the local fire department, county fire specialists, and neighbors and friends as information sources are positively associated with an increase in homeowners' perceived likelihood of wildfire, while only neighbors and friends as information sources are positively associated with an increase in homeowners' perceived consequences from wildfire (BrenkertSmith et al 2013, Dickinson et al 2015.…”

Where you stand depends on where you sit: qualitative inquiry into notions of fire adaptation

“…As such, research on the social system tends to be parsed into broad efforts to articulate the policy approaches that undergird the wildland fire dilemma (Steelman and Burke 2007) or more specific research efforts that identify behavioral response. Research on behavioral response generally focuses on shorter term coping behaviors before, during, and after stages of the disaster cycle, and includes mitigation activities and determinants of such hazard-related behaviors before an event (e.g., structural improvements, vegetation reduction around the home) (Martin et al 2009, Brenkert-Smith et al 2012, Dickinson et al 2015 and preparedness activities and their determinants (e.g., evacuation planning) (Cohn et al 2006, Jakes et al 2007, Paveglio et al 2010. And finally, limited work examines factors that influence the trajectories of recovery and likelihood of rebuilding after a disaster (Mockrin et al 2015) that may contribute to a shift from coping to adaptation.…”