Preventing wildfires with fire permits in rural Edson, Alberta
Tara K. McGee A * and Ludwig Paul B. Cabling A BA Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada.
B Present address: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 7-203 Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada.
International Journal of Wildland Fire 31(6) 599-606 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF20177
Submitted: 7 May 2021 Accepted: 7 April 2022 Published: 11 May 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of IAWF.
Abstract
Background: Fire used for agriculture has many benefits, but can cause wildfires if prevention activities are unsuccessful.
Aims: The aim of this study was to examine fire permit use and safe burning practices by rural residents in the Edson Forest Area, Alberta, Canada.
Methods: In total, 269 rural landowners completed a mail survey designed to identify how they use fire, their awareness of wildfire risk, fire experience, fire permit use and safe burning practices.
Key results: Most respondents used fire on their property, and all were aware of the local wildfire risk, but there was little recognition that using fire for agricultural purposes contributes to wildfires in the area. Many respondents were taking steps to prevent a fire from escaping, but some used fire without obtaining a permit. Those who had seen a wildfire in the Edson Forest Area were more likely to take measures to prevent a wildfire from escaping, and more likely to apply for a fire permit.
Conclusions: This research contributes to knowledge about rural landowners’ fire use, wildfire prevention activities and fire permit use.
Implications: Future research should confirm how wildfire experience affects fire permit use and safe use of fire by rural residents.
Keywords: agricultural, burn barrels, fire permits, fire use, information, risk awareness, rural, wildfire prevention.
References
Amissah L, Kyereh B, Agyeman VK (2010) Wildfire incidence and management in the forest transition zone of Ghana: farmers’ perspectives. Ghana Journal of Forestry 26, 61–73.| Wildfire incidence and management in the forest transition zone of Ghana: farmers’ perspectives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brenkert-Smith H, Champ PA, Flores N (2012) Trying not to get burned: understanding homeowners’ wildfire risk mitigation behaviors. Environmental Management 50, 1139–1151.
| Trying not to get burned: understanding homeowners’ wildfire risk mitigation behaviors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23001246PubMed |
Chas-Amil ML, Prestemon JP, McClean CJ, Touza J (2015) Human-ignited wildfire patterns and responses to policy shifts. Applied Geography 56, 164–176.
| Human-ignited wildfire patterns and responses to policy shifts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Freehill K, Harrison R, Johnston K, Corbin C, Simonton J, Scobie P (2016) Edson Forest Area Wildfire Prevention Plan – 2016. Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Fusco EJ, Abatzoglou JT, Balch JK, Finn JT, Bradley BA (2016) Quantifying the human influence on fire ignition across the western USA. Ecological Applications 26, 2390–2401.
| Quantifying the human influence on fire ignition across the western USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gómez-González S, González MA, Paula S, Díaz-Hormazábal I, Lara A, Delgado-Baquerizo M (2019) Temperature and agriculture are largely associated with fire activity in central Chile across different temporal periods. Forest Ecology and Management 433, 535–543.
| Temperature and agriculture are largely associated with fire activity in central Chile across different temporal periods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Government of Alberta (2019) Edson area update. Available at https://srd.web.alberta.ca/edson-area-update/edson-forest-area-fire-advisory-wildfire-update-oct-3-2019-1-0
Langer ER, McGee TK (2017) Wildfire risk awareness and prevention by predominantly Maori rural residents, Karikari Peninsula, Aotearoa New Zealand. International Journal of Wildland Fire 26, 820–828.
| Wildfire risk awareness and prevention by predominantly Maori rural residents, Karikari Peninsula, Aotearoa New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Martin WE, Martin IM, Kent B (2009) The role of risk perceptions in the risk mitigation process: the case of wildfire in high risk communities. Journal of Environmental Management 91, 489–498.
| The role of risk perceptions in the risk mitigation process: the case of wildfire in high risk communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19819614PubMed |
McCaffrey S, Toman E, Stidham M, Shindler B (2013) Social science research related to wildfire management: an overview of recent findings and future research needs. International Journal of Wildland Fire 22, 15–24.
| Social science research related to wildfire management: an overview of recent findings and future research needs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McGee TK, Mcfarlane BL, Varghese J (2009) An examination of the influence of hazard experience on wildfire risk perceptions and adoption of mitigation measures. Society and Natural Resources 22, 308–323.
| An examination of the influence of hazard experience on wildfire risk perceptions and adoption of mitigation measures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rodrigues M, de la Riva J, Fotheringham S (2014) Modeling the spatial variation of the explanatory factors of human-caused wildfires in Spain using geographically weighted logistic regression. Applied Geography 48, 52–63.
| Modeling the spatial variation of the explanatory factors of human-caused wildfires in Spain using geographically weighted logistic regression.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Statistics Canada (2021). Population estimates on July 1st, by age and sex. Table 17-10-0005-01.
