Badly Burned? Effects of an Escaped Prescribed Burn on Social Acceptability of Wildland Fuels Treatments

Authors

Mark W. Brunson, Utah State UniversityFollow
J. Evans

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title

Journal of Forestry

Publisher

Society of American Foresters

Publication Date

2005

Volume

103

Issue

April/May

First Page

134

Last Page

138

Abstract

In Sept. 2003, a prescribed burn on the Uinta National Forest escaped, costing nearly $3 million to extinguish while choking Utah cities with smoke for a week. When the incident drew harsh criticism from local officials and news media, fire managers worried that prescribed burning no longer would be feasible in northern Utah. Subsequently, we surveyed residents of three affected counties, including respondents to a 2001 survey, about acceptability of fuels management practices. Results suggest prescribed fire remains an acceptable tool for some situations but citizens doubt agencies' ability to use it effectively, especially near populated areas.

Comments

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Recommended Citation

Brunson, M.W., and J. Evans. 2005. Badly burned? Effects of an escaped prescribed burn on social acceptability of wildland fuels treatments. Journal of Forestry 103 (April/May): 134-138.