Antecedents of intention to help mitigate wildfire: Implications for campaigns promoting wildfire mitigation to the general public in the wildland-urban interface

The current investigation sought to examine the association between knowledge of the causes of wildfire in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) and intentions on the part of members of the public to help mitigate wildfire. In doing so, antecedents from the theory of planned behavior were employed to enhance understanding of the relationships among wildfire knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention to help mitigate wildfire in the WUI. Participants (N = 408) living in the WUI in Appalachian Ohio were sampled as a means of conducting formative research prior to developing messages promoting wildfire mitigation. Results reveal that, among the variables in the theory of planned behavior, the only paths that consistently explain an individual's intention to help mitigate wildland fire in the WUI in protecting both homes and the environment are associations between knowledge about wildfire and perceived behavioral control and between perceived behavioral control and intention. Findings are discussed with a focus on message design for wildland fire mitigation professionals and a focus on implications for the theory of planned behaviors for academics with interests in wildland fire and other environmental issues.

• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VF9-4T083B8-1/2/5bd4be10812f428abf1ffaea5c604e49
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09257535
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier
• Authors:
  • Bates, Benjamin R
  • Quick, Brian L
  • Kloss, Aaron A
• Publication Date: 2009-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 374-381
• Serial:
  • Safety Science
  • Volume: 47
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0925-7535
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09257535

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Campaigns; Fire causes; Wildfires
• Uncontrolled Terms: Environmental mitigation; Theory of planned behavior; Wildland-urban interface
• Geographic Terms: Ohio
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01122723
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 27 2009 7:49AM