Getz-Smeenk, A.

Langer, L.

Mcmorrow, Julia

English

Wildland fires generally are associated with countries such as the United States, Australia and in the Mediterranean, which have track records of large-impact wildland fires with severe social and environmental consequences. Projecting natural disasters to the Netherlands, United Kingdom and New Zealand, it is tempting to think of flooding, severe storms, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions rather than wildland fires. It is assumed that extensive fires causing fatalities and destroying homes only occur elsewhere. The number and extent of wildland fires in our relatively small countries have been comparatively low. However, despite our temperate climates, there is a risk that the impact of these mainly human induced wildland fires will increase under climate change scenarios, as weather extremes such as heat waves and severe drought become more frequent. In the Netherlands and New Zealand, wildland fire risks are increasing significantly as the wildland-urban interface expands. In the United Kingdom, vegetation fires in remote moorlands seriously challenge the operational strength and resilience of emergency services and, as in Spring 2011, have significant social and economic impact. An underestimation of wildland fire risk has led to under preparedness, vulnerable communities and stretched emergency services. There is an increased need for wildfire-aware policies and active mitigation addressing issues such as increased recreational use and arson in rural areas. These are not technological issues to resolve, but socio-economical issues to be addressed. Still a mental barrier exists which prevents the acknowledgement that wildland fires are a serious risk. This lack of awareness and need for increased agency and community responsibility is a binding theme between our countries. Much knowledge can be gained from examining international experiences. The challenge is to bring together vulnerable communities and policy makers from different sectors to mitigate against the increasing wildland fire risk of the future. Exploring different approaches, this article provides food for thought to decision makers trying to make sense of a highly complex societal issue

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The University of Manchester ResearchVulnerable communitiesDocument VersionOther versionLink to publication record in Manchester Research ExplorerCitation for published version (APA):Langer, L., Mcmorrow, J., & Getz-Smeenk, A. (2012). Vulnerable communities: three countries improving nationalawareness of wildland fire risk. IAWF 3rd conference on Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire, Seattle, Washington.http://www.iawfonline.org/pdf/3rd%20Human%20Dimensions%20Conference%20Proceedings%20-%20FINAL.pdfCiting this paperPlease note that where the full-text provided on Manchester Research Explorer is the Author Accepted Manuscriptor Proof version this may differ from the final Published version. If citing, it is advised that you check and use thepublisher's definitive version.General rightsCopyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the Research Explorer are retained by theauthors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise andabide by the legal requirements associated with these rights.Takedown policyIf you believe that this document breaches copyright please refer to the University of Manchester’s TakedownProcedures [http://man.ac.uk/04Y6Bo] or contact uml.scholarlycommunications@manchester.ac.uk providingrelevant details, so we can investigate your claim.Download date:09. Jun. 2022Vulnerable communities: three   countries improving national awareness of wildland fire riskLisa Langer (Scion, New Zealand) Julia McMorrow (University of Manchester, UK)Alette Getz Smeenk (VNOG Netherlands) -  , 1Wildland fire prone co ntries- u Wildland fires associated with United States    , Australia and in Mediterraneanl i t arge mpac severe social and environmental consequences The Netherlands, United Kingdom and New Zealand people think of flooding severe storms earthquakes   ,  ,  and volcanic eruptions rather than wildland fires.Public assume extensive wildland fires causing fatalities and destroying homes occur elsewhere.2C t   h toun ry snap s o sTheNetherlandsUnited Kingdom New ZealandPopulation 16 6 M 62 3 M 4 3 M.  .  .  Area km2 41,500 243,600 268,000Average annual 90 000 (2 700)* 3000  number ‘wildland’ fires,  ,Average area burned Unknown 6000 haannually% human caused fires Majority Majority 99%Number and extent of wildland fires comparatively lowU d ti ti f ildfi i kn eres ma on o  w re r s .* 2,700 require ≥ 5 fire tenders. Vegetation fires mainly on privately owned moorland and heath. 3Climate change: increasing riskUK 40% h f fi• Temperate climate • BUT risk impact -  c ance o  re on spring public holiday, Peak District; air   will increase under climate change temperature 30˚C (86˚F)• Weather extremes, e.g. heat waves and severe drought, will become more frequent. Number and extent of ildl d fi lik l t iAlbertson et al. (2009) J Env. Management, 90: 2642-2651.w an  res e y o ncrease.Increasing WUI  especially NZ and NL, Significantly expanding WUI, e.g. NZ – projected 21% population increase on urban fringes by 2021 Increasingly significant risk of wildland fires with      social and economic impact.Dune fire Schoorl, NL, 2009, 150ha dunes, elderly evacuated from rest home.WUI, Nelson, NZ, 2009, 30ha, 200 h t d omes evacua e , houses destroyed/damaged5Moorland fires  UK,• Large vegetation fires in remote moorlands serio sl challenge u y  operational strength and resilience of emergency services  Increasingly significant social and economic impact .Spring 2011: 250 significant fires in 20 days in England alone - homes evacuated, roads and schools closed; wind turbine shut down.6Barriers to prepared communities and emergency services Not technological issues to resolve Socio-economic issues  Mental barrier exists    Prevent acknowledgement that wildland fires are serious risk      Under-estimation of wildland fire risk has led to:    - under preparedness- vulnerable communities and - vulnerable emergency services.7Increased acknowledgement needed• Increased need for wildfire-aware communities and policy makers • Increased need for active mitigation      to address issues E g mitigation for increased. .    recreational use of fire and arson Recognise wildfire risk management on checklist of ecosystem services Acknowledge synergies and conflicts with other emergency services.8Binding theme – 3 countries Low awareness of wildland   fire risk Relatively poor preparedness Less efficient fire response Need increased agency and community responsibility  Need increased community dprepare ness.BUT much knowledge can be    gained from examining international experiences9 .International literature Wildland fire preparedness Community resilienceAdaptive capacity   Risk perception and mitigation in wildland-urban interface  Etc.10Knowledge gaps Lack of research on raising awareness of wildland fire risk in less fire-prone areas Discrepancies between how people interpret  Lack of research on raising awareness of wildlandfi i k i l firisk and how they adapt behaviour.re r s  n ess re-prone areas Discrepancies between how people interpret risk and how they adapt behaviour Role of land management burns in overall fire        regime; danger of over-suppression.11Future challenge• Bring together vulnerable communities and policy makers from different sectors to mitigate against increasing wildland fire risk• E.g. Netherlands WF Interagency Collaboration Project• E.g. UK fragmented approach to WF risk management filled by non-statutory local fire groups.DEFRA DCLG (Fire Services)Prevention People FuelDEFRARestorationCabinet Office, Local Resilience Fora (risk registers)• Preparedness• ResponseNon-statutory fire groups12Ho  do e address challenges?w wR h d d iti ti i l esearc  on prepare ness an  m ga on n ess-fire prone countries and regionsSh h f bli ti t are researc  – con erences, pu ca ons e c. Collaborative research and knowledge exchange E.g. Australia and New Zealand Effective communication project – Bushfire CRC St d l USDA F t S i t ff t Nu y eave – e.g.  ores  erv ce s a  o ew Zealand Natural Environment Research Council (UK) Knowledge      for Wildfire Knowledge Exchange Fellowship (JMcM). Discussion sessions/ongoing dialogue  .13Discussion session and contacts• Discussion session: Different risks different   ,  solutions? Thursday 3.10pm. Lisa Langer, New Zealandlisa langer@scionresearch com. . Julia Mcmorrow , United Kingdom    julia.mcmorrow@manchester.ac.uk Alette Getz-Smeenk , The NetherlandsA.Getz@vnog.nl

Vulnerable communities:three countries improving national awareness of wildland fire risk

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Vulnerable communities:three countries improving national awareness of wildland fire risk

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