Full Citation: Calkin DC, MaFinney MA, Ager AA, Thompson MP, Gebert KM. 2011. Progress towards and barriers to implementation of a risk framework for US federal wildland fire policy and decision making. Forest Policy and Economics 13: 378–389

Abstract: In this paper, we review progress towards the implementation of a risk management framework for US federal wildland fire policy and operations. We first describe new developments in wildfire simulation technology that catalyzed the development of risk-based decision support systems for strategic wildfire management. These systems include new analytical methods to measure wildfire risk to human and ecological values and to inform fuel treatment investment strategies at national, regional, and local scales. Application of the risk management framework to support wildfire incidents has been dramatically advanced with the Wildland Fire Decision Support System and allowed policy modifications that encourage management of incidents for multiple objectives. The new wildfire risk management decision support systems we discuss provide Federal agencies in the US the ability to integrate risk-informed approaches to a wide range of wildfire management responsibilities and decisions. While much progress has been made, there remain several barriers that need to be addressed to fully integrate risk science into current wildfire management practices. We conclude by identifying five primary issues that if properly addressed could help public land management better realize the opportunities and potential payoffs from fully adopting a risk management paradigm.

Key Excerpt: “Increased transparency regarding the efficacy and cost of various suppression activities, and demonstration of the fuel treatment benefits of wildfire could increase community support for allowing certain wildfires to burn under favorable, low-risk circumstances. These educational efforts should extend to our cooperating state and local fire management agencies.”