Best Practices for Interacting with the Public

about Wildland Fire: Key Findings from Interviews

Dan BerkmanHuman Dimensions of Wildland Fire

ConferenceSeattle, WA

 

Background

Fire suppression policies -ladder fuels

Climate change-earlier melting snowpack-drier fuel conditions-Mountain Pine Beetle

Expansion of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

-growing population-higher costs of suppression-defensible space

Western Regional Climate Center

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

Objective

To produce an annotated bibliography for fire managers that will integrate the known published literature with practical field experience from individuals who work in the field of wildland fire education and communication.

US Forest Service

Methods

Participants were selected through a snowball sampling technique (Goodman 1961).

A diverse range of geography, agency and positions were sought.

Interviews lasted approximately 45-60 minutes and were conversation style.

Basic content analysis techniques were used to find common themes and insightful feedback (Strauss and Corbin 1998).

Summary results

Agency R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R8 R9 R10 Total

NPS 2 1 1 3 1 1 9

USFS 7 3 1 1 1 1 14

BLM 1 1 2 4

State/local 5 2 1 1 9

Researchers 2 1 1 1 5

Other 1 3 4

Total 17 1 8 4 5 0 2 6 2 45

• 45 total interviews

• US Forest Service regions US Forest Service

Answers to questions geared toward work experience

Overall goal(s) when working with the public

Key themes from respondents:

Give accurate and concise information

Be honest

Be proactive with local communities

Show visuals

“It is important to get a clear message across. Be honest and not condescending.” -Fire Management Officer

NPS

The most effective and least effective tools

Most Effective: Face to face contact

Good relationship with local media

Inciweb

“Inciweb is like one stop shopping where all incidents are posted. It is a way to magnify our presence to a larger audience.” -Public Information Officer

Least Effective: Just using one tool in toolbox (written guidelines,

social media)

National Interagency Fire Center

Influence of social media

Key Themes:

Polarizing issue

The challenge is to juggle the new available technology without losing the personal touch.

Rumor central?

Quotes:“The public wants and desires up-to-date information, which is a good thing as long as you can give out ‘real time needs’.” -Fire Education Specialist

Lessons learned

Key Themes:

Remember human side of work

Public wants to be heard and listened to

Working with local agencies with help with externalcommunication efforts

Quote:“Remember you are a guest in their community. Be a person, not a government worker. Build trust and make common connections with people.” -Public Information Officer

Wall Street Journal

Answers to questions geared toward the formatting and content of the annotated bibliography

Knowledge gaps in fire managers

Key Themes:

Officers are not out in the field enough

Need to know fire ecology

Use common language

Need understanding of the Incident Command System

Quote:“You have to be a believable manager. You have to go out in the field and see what is being talked about.” -Fire and Aviation Management Officer

National Interagency Fire Center

Practicality and format

Key Themes:

Keep short and concise

Easy to read articles

Multimedia

Quote:“Line officers do not read much anymore. Sometimes we read executive summaries. Mostly we want quick and easily accessible reads.” -Fire Information Officer

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

BLM

Layout of bibliography: 105 total articles

The bibliography has been divided into the following main sections:

1) Introduction to Wildland Fire Ecology and History

2) Understanding Social Changes along the Wildland Urban Interface

3) Perception of Wildland Fire and Policy

4) Long Term Planning and Resiliency

Example table for a subsectionAuthor Date Published Geography Focus of Study

Page reference of full summary

Black et al.c 2008 NationalBarriers to wildland fire use and programs 30

Dombeck et al 2004 National

History of wildland fire policy and the impacts of climate change and an expanding WUI 30

Steelman et al. 2004Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico

Federal and state allocation of resources for suppression versus other management strategies 31

Steelman and Burke 2007 National

Federal, state, community allocation of resources toward wildland fire management 32

Steelman and McCaffrey 2011

Los Padres NF, California; Shoshone NF, Wyoming

External and internal issues for more flexible fire management strategies 32

Main conclusions

Best Practices Be honest and accurate with information.

Important to build relationships with communities prior to events.

The most effective tool is face-to-face, personal communication with the public.

Content and Format of Bibliography Geared toward information and line officers new to the

field of fire management.

Short and concise content. Easy to read articles and visuals.

Acknowledgements

Anne Black (RMRS)

Dick Bahr (NPS)

Vita Wright (RMRS/NPS)

Mark Ashton (Yale F&ES)

Ann Camp (Yale F&ES)

and

all those interviewed!