Urban residents’ approval of management measures to mitigate wildland–urban interface fire risks in Edmonton, Canada

Abstract

This paper is based on a survey of homeowners living adjacent to the extensive and heavily vegetated North Saskatchewan River Valley and Ravine System in Edmonton, Alberta. Residents in a random sample of 436 households adjacent to this urban natural area completed a mail questionnaire that sought insights into interface fire risk perceptions, completion of related household-level mitigation measures and approval of potential management measures. This paper presents respondents’ approval of five interface fire management measures. Education was most popular, and both thinning of vegetation within the river valley and restricting where people can build their homes received considerable support. Over half of respondents supported a requirement for residents to remove flammable vegetation close to their homes. Prescribed burning was the least popular measure. Edmonton survey respondents were more supportive of zoning and mandatory vegetation removal than has been found in previous studies in the US. Those measures that impacted residents the least were more likely to be supported. Factors influencing support for management measures, including risk perceptions, experiences, tenure and formal education, are discussed. Recommendations are made for natural area managers and land use planners.