When residents come under imminent wildfire threat, what aspects of decision making distinguish those who stay and defend their home from those who leave?

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TitleWhen residents come under imminent wildfire threat, what aspects of decision making distinguish those who stay and defend their home from those who leave?
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference2012
AuthorsMcLennan, J, Elliott, G, Omodei, M
Conference NameIAWF 3rd Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Conference, Seattle, WA, 17-19 April 2012
Pagination87-89
PublisherIAWF
Abstractbushfires (wildfires) occurring on days of extreme fire danger following long periods of low rainfall (Haynes et al 2008). A review of fatalities in disaster-level bushfires suggested that: (1) most deaths occurred when residents fled at the last minute and resulted from either vehicle crash or radiant heat; and (2) many who died in or near houses were elderly or otherwise impaired (Handmer & Tibbits, 2005). In its 2005 Position Statement the Australasian Fire Authorities Council concluded that: “By extinguishing small ignitions, people of adequate mental, emotional, and physical fitness, equipped with appropriate skills and basic resources can save a building that would otherwise be lost to fire” (p 6). These considerations led to a general Australian fire agency community safety policy message to residents at-risk of bushfires to: ‘prepare, stay and defend or leave early’ (Tibbits et al. 2008).
URLhttp://www.iawfonline.org/pdf/3rd%20Human%20Dimensions%20Conference%20Proceedings%20-%20FINAL.pdf
Refereed DesignationRefereed