Understanding community bushfire safety issues from social psychological perspectives

Understanding community bushfire safety issues from social psychological perspectives – a discussion paper.

As a direct result of bushfires on Saturday 7th February 2009, 173 people lost their lives in what has been described as the worst natural disaster in Australia’s recorded history.  The Black Saturday fires provided a recent and poignant reminder that many Australian communities are vulnerable to the devastating impacts of bushfire (which impacts can be financial, emotional, and health related; see Whittaker, Haynes, McLennan & Handmer, 2010) and that the protection of human life in extreme fire danger weather cannot be taken for granted.  Thus, it is important that we develop a sound understanding of the psychological factors underpinning a range of community safety issues and challenges, including community education, community preparation, alertness and warnings, and ‘stay or leave’ decision-making.   The purpose of this discussion paper is to assess the potential contribution that various social psychological theories and models can make to our understanding of community bushfire safety issues.