Defining adequate means of residents to prepare property for protection from wildfire

Penman, Trent D.; Eriksen, Christine; Blanchi, Raphaële; Chladil, Mark; Gill, A. Malcolm; Haynes, Katharine; Leonard, Justin; McLennan, Jim; Bradstock, Ross A.

doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2013.09.001

Cited by 70 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 50 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Initial attack is most successful with rapid response times and low fuel loads (Plucinski 2012) indicating an interaction with fuel treatment efforts (Penman et al 2013b;Salis et al 2014). Community engagement with householders encourages better preparation (Penman et al 2013c) and increases the probability of structures surviving (Gibbons et al 2012). However, the degree of involvement by property owners is linked to their perceived levels of wildfire risk (Gill et al 2015;Penman et al 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is there an inherent conflict in managing fire for people and conservation?

Bentley

Penman

2017

Int. J. Wildland Fire

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Wildfires are a natural disturbance in many ecosystems, creating challenges for land management agencies who need to simultaneously reduce risk to people and maintain ecological values. Here we use the PHOENIX RapidFire fire behaviour simulator to compare fuel treatment strategies that meet the twin objectives of reducing wildfire risk to human settlements and a fire sensitive endangered species, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in south-eastern Australia. The local koala population is in decline and a conservation management plan is being prepared to exclude wildfire for a 10-year period to assist with population recovery. Twelve scenarios developed by the land management agencies were compared using four indicators: wildfire size; burn probability; impact from exposure to fire; and treatment cost. Compared with the current risk setting, three treatment scenarios were found to reduce wildfire size and burn probability concurrently to both people and koalas. These strategies worked by increasing the landscape area treated, which came with increased financial cost. However, the impact from exposure to fire for both property and koala habitat remains high. Additional complementary strategies beyond landscape fuel reductions are needed to reduce impact from exposure in the event of a wildfire.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is there an inherent conflict in managing fire for people and conservation?

Bentley

Penman

2017

Int. J. Wildland Fire

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Exposure is based on the calculated radiant heat flux of the property which is translated to the probability of exposure to each of embers, radiant heat and flame contact (Ramsay et al, 1987). The probability that a house ignites from each of these sources is then driven by its condition, which is a measure of fuels on or adjacent to the house (Gill, 2005;Penman et al, 2013b). These include timber decking, leaf litter on the roof or in the gutters and shrubs adjacent to the house (Blanchi and Leonard, 2008;Nelson et al, 2005).…”

Section: Model Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing the risk of house loss due to wildfires

Penman

Nicholson

Bradstock

et al. 2015

Environmental Modelling & Software

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…In the wake of the 2009 ''Black Saturday'' bushfires, for example, Handmer et al (2010) found that many of the people killed were undertaking ''response'' actions rather than ''preparations'' prior to impact of the fire. To reduce the number of lives and houses lost during bushfires, Eriksen and Prior (2013) and Penman et al (2013) emphasise the need for risk communication to clearly define and explain why practical household preparation tasks need to be completed on a regular basis.…”

Section: ''Preparation'' Versus ''Response''mentioning

confidence: 99%

Into the firing line: civilian ingress during the 2013 “Red October” bushfires, Australia

Wilkinson,

Eriksen,

Penman

2015

Nat Hazards

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A major issue for bushfire management arises when residents decide to leave a safe area and enter the fire zone to rescue or defend their property, pets, loved ones or other assets. Here, we use statistical and narrative analyses of data from an online survey and semi-structured interviews with residents affected by the 2013 "Red October" bushfires in New South Wales, Australia. The survey results revealed that of the 58 % of respondents who were not at home at the time the threat became apparent, 65 % indicated that they attempted to get home prior to the arrival of the fire front. In doing so, many endangered themselves, their family, friends and emergency services personnel. This paper discusses the shortcomings of bushfire survival plans and official risk communication, which do not cater well for household units that are divided or unattended when a bushfire starts. Findings suggest that to enhance bushfire safety and preparedness, emergency managers should acknowledge and speak more directly to the specific constraints to action for particular social groups at the wildland-urban interface, including families with school-age children, commuters and absentee landholders. October' bushfires in New South Wales, Australia. The survey results revealed that of the 58% of respondents who were not at home at the time the threat became apparent, 65% indicated that they attempted to get home prior to the arrival of the fire front. In doing so, many endangered themselves, their family, friends and emergency services personnel. This paper discusses the shortcomings of bushfire survival plans and official risk communication, which do not cater well for household units that are divided or unattended when a bushfire starts. Findings suggest that to enhance bushfire safety and preparedness, emergency managers should acknowledge and speak more directly to the specific constraints to action for particular social groups at the wildland-urban interface, including families with school age children, commuters and absentee landholders.

show abstract

Defining adequate means of residents to prepare property for protection from wildfire

Cited by 70 publications

References 50 publications

Is there an inherent conflict in managing fire for people and conservation?

Is there an inherent conflict in managing fire for people and conservation?

Reducing the risk of house loss due to wildfires

Into the firing line: civilian ingress during the 2013 “Red October” bushfires, Australia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About