Abstract: |
As the October 2003 fires in Southern California demonstrate only too clearly, a critical component of the current wildfire problem in the United States is the growing number of people living in high fire hazard areas. Their active involvement will be central to efforts to reduce the hazard. As such, understanding their relevant beliefs and expectations, of the landscape and of land management agencies, will be crucial information for developing effective plans to mitigate the fire hazard. To understand these issues we have initiated, as part of a National Fire Plan project, eleven studies using a variety of approaches to explore people’s responses to the wildfire hazard and fuel treatment methods in a variety of different ecological and geographical settings across the country. Two of the most important elements appear to be trust in the agency doing the fuels management and concern about other values beyond fire hazard reduction such as forest health. When studies are completed, it is expected that fire managers, planners, and educators at the national, state, and local level will be provided with useful guidelines about the most effective means of promoting public support for and participation in pro-active fire management activities. |
