Adoption and perceptions of shelter-in-place in California’s Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District
Travis B. Paveglio A , Matthew S. Carroll B and Pamela J. Jakes C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Forest Management, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
B Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Washington State University, Johnson Hall 183, Pullman, WA 99164-6410, USA.
C USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, 1992 Folwell Avenue, St Paul, MN 55108, USA.
D Corresponding author. Email: pjakes@fs.fed.us
International Journal of Wildland Fire 19(6) 677-688 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF09034
Submitted: 4 April 2009 Accepted: 9 January 2010 Published: 17 September 2010
Abstract
The increasing impact of wildland fire on human settlements in the USA, and a growing recognition that evacuation might not always to the safest option for those in the path of the flames, continue to spur consideration of alternatives to evacuation among the American public and its fire professionals. Alternatives to evacuation typically include the option for residents to remain in fire-hardened structures while the flames pass; however, it appears there is no clear consensus on whether existing Australian alternatives or new variations should be used in American communities, and if any option will reduce risks to residents and firefighters. This study uses structuration theory to analyse adoption of the shelter-in-place policy created by the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District in southern California. We interviewed professionals working in and around the District and the public affected by the policy. Results suggest that professional support and implementation of shelter-in-place are influenced by the breadth of their personal firefighting experience, their agencies’ flexibility and constraints on innovation, and perceived potential liability for damage from adoption of alternatives. Resident knowledge and understanding of shelter-in-place are also lacking. We conclude with recommendations for continued development of alternatives to evacuation.
Additional keywords: alternatives to evacuation, community development, public safety, Stay and Defend or Leave early.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by National Fire Plan funds provided by the Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, St Paul, MN. The authors wish to thank Sarah McCaffrey, USDA Forest Service, Thomas Cova, University of Utah, and Cliff Hunter, Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District, for reviewing an earlier version of this manuscript.
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A Versions of the RSF District literature produced after this study clarify the incongruence in this message. The title of the most recent outreach material states: ‘Shelter-in-place … if you can’t evacuate’. The publication identifies early evacuation as the best option, describes SIP as a choice and advocates SIP when residents are trapped by fire (
Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District 2009).
