The Place of Fire

Abstract

As the wildland-urban interface (WUI) grows in size and density and increasing levels of funding are being directed toward education and outreach programs targeting residents in these communities, it is becoming increasingly important to investigate residents’ responses to wildfire risk. This is particularly true because participation of WUI residents in reducing fire risk constitutes an important piece in the management of wildland fire problem. Few studies have examined how residents living in fire-prone areas feel about and adapt to increasing levels of wildfire risk. In this paper, I investigate “place” as a salient theme shaping the decision-making process around the implementation of wildfire risk reduction measures on private property. Insight into this process will be valuable to fire and forest managers who are increasingly charged with the responsibility of galvanizing WUI residents and communities to take part in wildfire risk reduction.