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- Info
Public perceptions of defensible space and the use of prescribed fire in Florida's wildland-urban interface
| Author: |
Monroe, Martha C.; Bowers, Alison W.; Nelson, Kristen C. |
| Date: |
2002 |
| Periodical: |
Gainesville, FL: University of Florida. 41 p |
| Abstract: |
Wildland fire is a growing threat to residents of the wildland-urban interface across the nation. Despite strongly worded messages from forestry and fire agencies, some residents are not very interested in reducing vegetation around their home to reduce their risk. A series of 43 in-depth interviews with residents at risk of wildland fire in their homes reveals new understandings about their beliefs and landscape values. In general, they are not unfamiliar with fire; all of our participants have smelled smoke from wildfires near their home and many were threatened with evacuation during recent substantial fire events. Most have lived in Florida for at least seven years; they are not newcomers to the region. While this small sample size cannot be used to predict perceptions of interface residents, it can help explain the diversity of values that influence resident’s reactions to fire and reducing their risk of fire. |
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