Communicating the Risks of Wildland Fire: Using Mental Models Research To Identify Risk Communication Needs for Natural Resource Management.* M. Simons, The Ohio State University
Wildland fires, an inevitable natural phenomenon, play a vital role in many different ecosystems. From triggering regeneration in jack pine stands to releasing soil nutrients in ponderosa pine forests, the ecological importance of fire is increasingly being recognized. In addition to these benefits, wildland fire also poses significant risks. These risks mainly affect people but in many cases, may also jeopardize environmental services (e.g., efforts to rehabilitate threatened species and habitats, etc.). Because of this, the management of natural and human induced wildland fires is an intricate process that must balance the understanding of two considerations: that of fire as a necessary natural process and that of the risks that fire poses to people and the environment. It goes without saying that fire management is contingent upon effective two-way communication between wildland fire managers and stakeholders. This study uses mental models research to identify the wildland fire risk information needs of people that live at the wildland-urban interface. Preliminary results of this investigation suggest that there are a number of actions in the context of fire risk management that can be taken by individual property owners that are not currently considered by these groups. Likewise, there are a number of fire risk-concepts important to non-expert stakeholders that are not currently considered by fire management experts. These disparities point to the need for improved wildland fire risk communication processes at the wildland-urban interface.
*Student Travel Award.
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