Mitigation behaviors of homeowners and renters in the wildland urban interface

Abstract

Residential development within the wildland-urban interface (WUI) has greatly expanded in the United States since the 1990s, amplifying wildfire risk by placing people and structures in greater proximity to flammable vegetation. Household wildfire mitigation actions can vary substantially by cost, knowledge required, and perceived effectiveness, but few studies have examined them separately and how their adoption varies by housing tenure in the context of wildfires. To address this gap, we surveyed residents living in WUI areas within Southern California near recent burn scars in the Santa Ana and San Bernardino Mountain ranges. Drawing on the Protection Motivation Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior, we evaluated the factors driving the adoption of five Wildfire Mitigation Intention or Implementation (WMII) action types: fire insurance, structural retrofits, exterior minor maintenance, exterior vegetative measures, and community actions. Findings indicate that self-efficacy (perceived ability to undertake protective measures) and response efficacy (perceived effectiveness of a protective measure) are positively associated with all action types, with self-efficacy having a stronger association. Factors associated with implementation or intention to take mitigation action differed across action types. Renters reported lower levels of mitigation overall and faced greater financial and knowledge barriers. Findings stress that wildfire mitigation programs should account for how knowledge, resources, and abilities to take different WMII actions vary by housing tenure. Findings suggest that wildfire emergency officials should focus on capacity building and public education initiatives for WUI residents, with a particular focus on addressing the unique challenges renters face in high-risk areas.