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Assessing Perception of Wildfires and Related Impacts among Adult Residents of Southern California

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  • Shahir Masri

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Erica Anne Shenoi

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Dana Rose Garfin

    (Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • Jun Wu

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA)

Abstract

Major wildfires and their smoke pose a threat to public health and are becoming more frequent in the United States, particularly in California and other populated, fire-prone states. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how California residents view wildfires and engage in risk-reducing behaviors during wildfire events. Currently, there is a knowledge gap concerning this area of inquiry. We disseminated a 40-question cross-sectional survey to explore wildfire perception and knowledge along with related risk-reducing measures and policies among 807 adult residents in the fire-prone region of Orange County, California. Results demonstrated that nearly all (>95%) participants had (or knew someone who had) previously experienced a wildfire. Female gender, knowing a wildfire victim and reporting to have a general interest/passion for environmental issues were the three factors most strongly associated with (1) wildfires (and smoke) being reported as a threat, (2) participants’ willingness to evacuate if threatened by a nearby wildfire, and (3) participants’ willingness to support a wildfire-related tax increase ( p < 0.05). The majority (57.4%) of participants agreed that the occurrence of wildfires is influenced by climate change, with the most commonly reported risk-reducing actions (by 44% of participants) being informational actions (e.g., tracking the news) rather than self-motivated physical safety actions (e.g., using an air purifier) (29%). The results of this study can help to inform decision- and policy-making regarding future wildfire events as well as allow more targeted and effective public health messaging and intervention measures, in turn helping to reduce the risk associated with future wildfire/smoke episodes.

Suggested Citation

  • Shahir Masri & Erica Anne Shenoi & Dana Rose Garfin & Jun Wu, 2023. "Assessing Perception of Wildfires and Related Impacts among Adult Residents of Southern California," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:1:p:815-:d:1022315
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jia Coco Liu & Loretta J. Mickley & Melissa P. Sulprizio & Francesca Dominici & Xu Yue & Keita Ebisu & Georgiana Brooke Anderson & Rafi F. A. Khan & Mercedes A. Bravo & Michelle L. Bell, 2016. "Particulate air pollution from wildfires in the Western US under climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 138(3), pages 655-666, October.
    2. Shahir Masri & Erica Scaduto & Yufang Jin & Jun Wu, 2021. "Disproportionate Impacts of Wildfires among Elderly and Low-Income Communities in California from 2000–2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-20, April.
    3. Patricia A Champ & Hannah Brenkert‐Smith, 2016. "Is Seeing Believing? Perceptions of Wildfire Risk Over Time," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(4), pages 816-830, April.
    4. Giuseppina Spano & Mario Elia & Onofrio Cappelluti & Giuseppe Colangelo & Vincenzo Giannico & Marina D’Este & Raffaele Lafortezza & Giovanni Sanesi, 2021. "Is Experience the Best Teacher? Knowledge, Perceptions, and Awareness of Wildfire Risk," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-12, August.
    5. Charness, Gary & Gneezy, Uri, 2012. "Strong Evidence for Gender Differences in Risk Taking," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 83(1), pages 50-58.
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    1. Carsten Hobohm & Volker Müller-Benedict, 2024. "Biased Perception of Macroecological Findings Triggered by the IPCC—The Example of Wildfires," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-21, December.

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