Building community–agency trust in fire-affected communities in Australia and the United States
Christine S. Olsen A C and Emily Sharp B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Forest Ecosystems & Society, 321 Richardson Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
B Institute for Water and Society, Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, PO Box 789, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: christine.olsen@oregonstate.edu
International Journal of Wildland Fire 22(6) 822-831 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF12086
Submitted: 1 June 2012 Accepted: 28 January 2013 Published: 21 May 2013
Abstract
As a result of the increasing environmental and social costs of wildfire, fire management agencies face ever-growing complexity in their management decisions and interactions with the public. The success of these interactions with community members may be facilitated through building community–agency trust in the process of providing public input opportunities and community engagement and education activities. Without trust, the public may become frustrated in their interactions with the agency and withhold support for management decisions. This study takes a comparative case approach using interview data from communities near the King Valley fires in Victoria, Australia, and the Bear & Booth Complex fires in Oregon, USA. Several themes emerge that are common to both sites, including components of trustworthiness and actions or activities that contribute to a trusting relationship or environment. Key findings suggest trust and trustworthiness can be addressed interpersonally and institutionally and that flexible policies are important for implementation of locally appropriate outreach and management plans.
Additional keywords: B&B Fires, citizen trust, communication, fuel reduction, King Valley Fires, public trust.
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