Date of Award:

5-2015

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Environment and Society

Committee Chair(s)

Mark W. Brunson

Committee

Mark W. Brunson

Committee

E. Helen Berry

Committee

Man-Keun Kim

Committee

Peter D. Howe

Committee

R. Douglas Ramsey

Abstract

Protecting human communities and natural environments from wildfire is growing more complex as more people move to fire-prone areas across the United States. This study integrates cultural, psychological, and environmental information to reach a better understanding of the linkages between perceptions of risk from wildfire and people’s behaviors to reduce that risk. Through studies in fire-prone communities in Arizona, California, and New Mexico, I investigated factors that influence peoples’ decisions whether to undertake wildfire hazard mitigation activities such as clearing dead vegetation around the house. The social and ecological characteristics of individual properties were investigated to understand how they are interconnected to affect property owner behaviors.

There are several factors affecting public responses to wildfire including local context, personal considerations, and experience with wildfire. I examined the influence of those variables upon an individual’s decision regarding wildfire mitigation. Property owners residing in the wildland-urban interface understand the risk of wildfire, but their willingness to reduce risk varies based on the views people hold toward nature. I found that those who place a high value on nature perceived high risk from wildfire and were less likely to engage in mitigation. However, those whose perceptions of risk was based on fire managers and local authorities were willing to engage in mitigation behavior if they have a positive attitude toward mitigating activities, and if they perceived that they felt they had control of the activity. In general, people often view that the risk from a natural hazard in their local area is lower than in other areas, known as being “unrealistically optimistic.” I also investigated this issue in the wildfire context. I found that the same role applies with wildfire: People perceived a relatively lower risk in their local areas than at a broader scale such as a county or state. It is important to communicate wildfire risk at the community level to effectively help residents prepare for future wildfires.

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