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Multiple social and environmental factors affect wildland fire response of full or less-than-full suppression.

Multiple social and environmental factors affect wildland fire response of full or less-than-full suppression.

Authors :
Daniels, Molly C.
Braziunas, Kristin H.
Turner, Monica G.
Ma, Ting-Fung
Short, Karen C.
Rissman, Adena R.
Source :
Journal of Environmental Management. Feb2024, Vol. 351, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Wildland fire incident commanders make wildfire response decisions within an increasingly complex socio-environmental context. Threats to human safety and property, along with public pressures and agency cultures, often lead commanders to emphasize full suppression. However, commanders may use less-than-full suppression to enhance responder safety, reduce firefighting costs, and encourage beneficial effects of fire. This study asks: what management, socioeconomic, environmental, and fire behavior characteristics are associated with full suppression and the less-than-full suppression methods of point-zone protection, confinement/containment, and maintain/monitor? We analyzed incident report data from 374 wildfires in the United States northern Rocky Mountains between 2008 and 2013. Regression models showed that full suppression was most strongly associated with higher housing density and earlier dates in the calendar year, along with non-federal land jurisdiction, regional and national incident management teams, human-caused ignitions, low fire-growth potential, and greater fire size. Interviews with commanders provided decision-making context for these regression results. Future efforts to encourage less-than-full suppression should address the complex management context, in addition to the biophysical context, of fire response. • Social-ecological context is critical for fire management decisions. • Commanders chose full suppression for nearly half the fires in the region. • Full suppression less likely on federal land, later in year, and for local teams. • Full suppression more likely with higher housing density and larger fires. • Changes would incentivize less-than-full-suppression to reduce future fire risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
03014797
Volume :
351
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of Environmental Management
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
174686035
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119731