Fire Social Science Research From The Pacific Southwest Research Station

Fire events often have a large impact on recreation and tourism, yet these issues had not been addressed from a social science perspective. There are three distinct lines of research to address: examine values/attitudes and behaviors of recreation residence owners and year-round residents in the wildland-urban interface; examine recreationists¿ perceptions about fire suppression and postfire forest health issues; and examine perceptions and beliefs about recreation activities and impacts to fire-prone ecosystems in the wildland-urban interface. This report includes 17 of these studies grouped into four major topical headings: recreation use research, commun. research, program eval. and interface residents research, and trust research. Charts and tables.

Fire events often have a large impact on recreation and tourism, yet these issues had not been addressed from a social science perspective. To address this, the Wildland Recreation and Urban Cultures Research Work Unit (RWU) of the Pacific Southwest Research Station acquired funding through the National Fire Plan within the community assistance topic area. The three RWU scientists have developed some distinct lines of research to address the research objectives identified when acquiring the funding: examine values/attitudes and behaviors of recreation residence owners and year-round residents in the wildland-urban interface, examine recreationists' perceptions about fire suppression and postfire forest health issues, and examine perceptions and beliefs about recreation activities and impacts to fire-prone ecosystems in the wildland-urban interface. We report 17 of these studies grouped into four major topical headings: recreation use research, communication research, program evaluation and interface residents research, and trust research.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USFS) call for research proposals in 2001 addressed rebuilding USFS capability to address problems in fire-adapted ecosystems and in the wildland-urban interface. This effort supported the National Fire Plan and the 10-year comprehensive fire strategy. The National Fire Plan goals were to ensure sufficient firefighting resources for the future, rehabilitate and restore fire-damaged ecosystems, reduce fuels (combustible forest materials) in forests and rangelands at risk, especially near communities, and work with local residents to reduce fire risk and improve fire protection. Each proposal included the proposed research, development, and implementation activities that would be undertaken over a 5-year period, as well as the expected outcomes from these activities. The major topic headings for proposals were firefighting, rehabilitation and recovery, hazardous fuel reduction, and community assistance. Funding was distributed according to a formula developed by national team leaders within the USFS with firefighting receiving 34 percent of the funds, rehabilitation and recovery 20 percent, hazardous fuel reduction 35 percent, community assistance 10 percent, and Washington office administration 1 percent. This allocation reflected the judgment of national team leaders about the relative magnitude of needs and the alignment of the program with the National Fire Plan goals and objectives. It took into account the serious need for pivotal core fire science development and the eligibility of the social sciences across all four topics. The Wildland Recreation and Urban Cultures Research Work Unit of the Pacific Southwest Research Station was funded through this allocation within the community assistance topic area. In the proposal, we noted that fire events often have a large impact on recreation and tourism, yet these issues had not been addressed from a social science perspective. These impacts are due to the direct short- and long-term biophysical effects of fires, and indirect or induced effects owing to firefighting operations, fuel treatments, area closures, and other disruptions to social systems. Local populations are affected, as are visiting populations, and these effects are particularly acute in wildlands near urban areas. Understanding and managing these impacts would be improved by scientific study of the values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of the affected populations in relation to fire events, fire management, and fire effects. Unit work focused on three research objectives: Examine values/attitudes and behaviors of recreation residence owners and year-round residents in the wildland-urban interface; Examine recreationists' perceptions about fire suppression and postfire forest health issues; and Examine perceptions and beliefs about recreation activities and impacts to fire-prone ecosystems in the wildland-urban interface. In the first year of funding, we developed research and cooperative relationships with people in California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, and Washington. Our work over the years has increased considerably, and the unit has conducted research studies in many locations across the United States. We report 17 of these studies grouped into four major topical headings: recreation use, communication, program evaluation and interface residents, and trust.

The wildland fire community has spent the past decade trying to understand and account for the role of human factors in wildland fire organizations. Social research that is relevant to managing fire organizations can be found in disciplines such as social psychology, management, and communication. However, such research has been published primarily for scientific and business audiences, and much of the fire community has not been exposed to it. Here, we have compiled and organized knowledge from a variety of social science disciplines so that it can be used to improve organizational practices related to firefighter and public safety, to assess the effectiveness of safety campaigns, and to improve firefighter safety trainings. This annotated reading list summarizes approximately 270 books, articles, and online resources that address scientific and management concepts helpful for understanding the human side of fire management. The first section, Human Factors and Firefighting, introduces readers to key workshops and writings that led to the recognition that human factors are prime ingredients of firefighter safety. The second section, Foundations for Understanding Organizations, consists of social science research that provides a foundation for understanding organizational dynamics. This section includes readings on decision making and sensemaking, organizational culture, identification and identity, leadership and change, organizational learning, and teams and crews. The third section, Understanding Organizations in High Risk Contexts, explores organizations that deal regularly with risk, uncertainty and crisis. This section includes readings on risk and uncertainty, high reliability organizing, and crisis communication. The publication concludes with Internet resources available for those interested in the management of fire organizations.

A summary of four studies which were aimed at developing a theoretical and practical understanding of homeowners¿ attitudes and behaviors in the wildland-urban interface in relation to the threat from wildland fires. The studies focused on methods that measured: (1) value orientations (patterns of basic beliefs) toward natural processes; (2) attitudes toward wildland fire policies; and (3) behavioral intentions to adopt defensible space activities or support agency policies and actions. This report presents the key findings from these studies, highlights the practical consequences of adopting a theory-based approach to understanding wildland fire management in urbanized areas, and suggests strategies for successful wildfire-prevention education programs. Illustrations.

A compilation and summary of four research studies is presented. They were aimed at developing a theoretical and practical understanding of homeowners' attitudes and behaviors in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) in relation to the threat from wildland fires. Individual studies focused on models and methods that measured (1) value orientations (patterns of basic beliefs) toward natural processes, (2) attitudes toward wildland fire policies, and (3) behavioral intentions to adopt defensible space activities or support agency policies/actions. This report presents some of the key findings from these studies, highlights the practical consequences of adopting a theory-based approach to understanding wildland fire management in urbanized areas, and suggests strategies for successful wildfire-prevention education programs.

Chaparral shrubland ecosystems are an iconic feature of the California landscape, and a highly biodiverse yet highly flammable backdrop to some of the fastest growing urban areas in the United States. Chaparral-type ecosystems are a common element of all of the world’s Mediterranean-type climate regions – of which California is one – yet there is little public appreciation of the intrinsic value and the ecosystem services that these landscapes provide. Valuing Chaparral is a compendium of contributions from experts in chaparral ecology and management, with a focus on the human relationship with chaparral ecosystems. Chapters cover a wide variety of subjects, ranging from biodiversity to ecosystem services like water provision, erosion control, carbon sequestration and recreation; from the history of human interactions with chaparral to current education and conservation efforts; and from chaparral restoration and management to scenarios of the future under changing climate, land use, and human population. Valuing Chaparral will be of interest to resource managers, the research community, policy makers, and the public who live and work in the chaparral dominated landscapes of California and other Mediterranean-type climate regions.