People, fire, and wildland environments

Abstract

The mixing of people, wildlands, and fire hazards—the urban/wildland interface—is creating a management problem that offers both challenges and opportunities to resource managers. This paper provides an overview of the many facets of the urban/wildland fire interface. The nature of the problem is defined, and the steps that managers have taken since the mid-1980s to define the problem and increase awareness are described. Building awareness of policy problems, however, is only a first step in any policy development process. Concern and interest must be translated into sustained policy action. To do so will require capturing the attention of a broader audience, transferring technological improvements to all impacted interests, and systematically evaluating a broad range of innovative policy alternatives. The activities taking place in Palm Coast, Florida illustrate the involvement and resources of local citizens, researchers, and government entities that will need to be marshalled to work toward a solution of the problem.