Prescribed Fire and the Public: Myths and Realities

What You Will Learn:

As public opinion can shut down the ability to use prescribed fire, it is important for managers to work with the public when they plan to use it. There are many conventional beliefs about prescribed fire that have been discounted by fire researchers. It is therefore useful to have an accurate idea of what people do and don’t think about prescribed fire and what shapes those ideas. This webinar summarizes findings from recent research on the social acceptability of prescribed fire, identifying key variables that influence approval and what role they play. Acceptance of smoke, fear of a burn going out of control, and trust are the key variables that affect the practice of prescribed fire. Tolerance for prescribed burn increases with understanding of its purpose and benefits.