2. Wildfire risk is increasing  Biophysical reasons:  Prolonged drought  Climate change  Sociopolitical reasons:  History of fire and forest management  Amenity-related migration fueling housing growth  Lax regulation of private lands

3. Santa Barbara Fires 5.7.2009– Associated Press

4. Gaps in knowledge  Lack of data  Isolated social scientists on agency agendas  Natural hazards community disconnect

5. Common assumptions about natural hazards response:  People will engage in rational cost-benefit analysis in order to assess risk and exposure to natural hazards.  Inaction among those at risk is due to inadequate information.  Provision and adequate distribution of information will solve the problem.

6. Santa Barbara Fires 5.8.2009 –Associated Press

7. Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI): where natural fuels meet and mix with human-made fuels

8. Parcel Approach to wildfire mitigation  Wildfire mitigation that takes place on a single parcel of land as deemed necessary and possible by the property owner.

12. Study Details  6 communities  Community infrastructure (e.g. VFD, HOA)  Community composition (pt vs ft)  62 households (73 participants, 76 parcels)  In-depth interviews  Nvivo qualitative software– data coding and analysis

13. Reported Behaviors  Frequency  48 of the 62 households (77%) reported adopting 2 or more mitigation measures  38 of the 62 households (61%) reported 3 or more.  Type  51 HH reported Clearing underbrush/cutting grasses (82%)  41 HH reported Cutting ladder fuels (66%)  29 HH reported Thinning (47%)

14. Perspectives on efficacy of parcel approach: Skepticism

15. Response to Skepticism: Neighbor Collaborations Community composition

16. Role of Community Infrastructure: Wildfire Discourses

17. Questions?