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Behavioral Factors in Wildfires
Understanding human behavioral factors is paramount to effective wildfire management and prevention because significant portion of wildland fires in the U.S. are caused by people. Research indicates that these behavioral elements go beyond mere accidents, encompassing complex issues like social disorder and the intentional acts of arson, which can be influenced by environmental cues, as suggested by the "broken windows" theory. Consequently, successfully mitigating wildfire risk requires moving past purely ecological or firefighting responses and instead developing proactive strategies that utilize social science. By analyzing spatial patterns of risk, understanding how human choices create spatial externalities (where one person's mitigation efforts benefit neighbors), and identifying the sociological drivers of high-risk behavior, policymakers can create optimized prevention programs, educational campaigns, and targeted enforcement measures that address the root causes of ignitions.
- Protect Thy Neighbor: Investigating the Spatial Externalities of Wildfire Hazard Mitigation
- Thomas, D. S., Prestemon, J. P., & Butry, D. T. (2014). "Protect thy neighbor: Investigating the spatial externalities of wildfire hazard mitigation." Journal of Environmental Management, 146, 354–363. https://doi.org/10.1093/forestscience/54.4.417
- Enticing arsonists with broken windows and social disorder
- Thomas, D. S., Butry, D. T., & Prestemon, J. P. (2011). "Enticing arsonists with broken windows and social disorder." Fire Technology, 47(1), 255–273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-010-0145-1
- Social Disorder, Accidents, and Municipal Wildfires
- Thomas, D. S., Butry, D. T., & Prestemon, J. P. (2012). "Social disorder, accidents, and municipal wildfires." In R. L. Fox (Ed.), Proceedings of 3rd Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Conference (pp. 11–24). International Association of Wildland Fire. http://www.iawfonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Errata_3rd_Human_Dimensions_Conference_Proceedings.pdf
- The Decline in Reported Smoking-Caused Wildfires
- Butry, D. T., Prestemon, J. P., & Thomas, D. S. (2014). Investigation of the decline in reported smoking-caused wildfires in the USA from 2000 to 2011. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 23(6), 790–798. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WF13146