Landowner Concern about Wildfires and Implementation of Fuel Reduction Treatments
Abstract Fuel reduction treatments implemented by nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners affect wildfire hazard potential on both their tracts and surrounding lands. However, it is not clear how concerned they are about wildfire damages and what actions they are willing to take to lower wildfire hazard. This study determined the landowner concern level about wildfire damages and identified factors affecting their concern and fuel treatment implementation using seemingly unrelated and binary probit models, respectively. Approximately, 68% of landowners were concerned about property damage due to wildfires, and 45% implemented some fuel reduction treatments. The most common and least costly fuel treatment was prescribed burning ($18/acre) followed by chemical ($59/acre) and mechanical ($127/acre) treatments. Raising awareness about potential monetary losses due to wildfires, assisting landowners in preparing written forest management plans, and prioritizing areas with predominant pine cover will encourage landowner participation in hazardous fuel reduction programs and facilitate more effective wildfire mitigation. Study Implications Nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners were concerned about monetary damages due to wildfires, which influenced their implementation of fuel reduction treatments. Estimates of fuel treatment cost and implementation frequency provide baseline information necessary to determine cost-effectiveness of various fuel treatments for their subsequent prioritization. Programs and policies that increase awareness among landowners about potential monetary losses due to wildfires, facilitate preparation of forest management plans with wildfire hazard mitigation prescriptions, and prioritize areas with high wildfire hazard potential are needed to increase implementation of hazardous fuel reduction treatments by NIPF landowners to reduce wildfire intensity and severity.