ABSTRACT
As fire risk has increased in U.S. forests over the past several decades, decisionmakers and the general public have come to realize that reliance on fire suppression alone is no longer sufficient to protect lives, property, and ecosystems (Machlis et al. 2002; Rocky Mountain Research Station 1997; White 2004; Williams 2004). Fire fighters are mandated to protect residential and commercial development in wildland-urban interface areas, and this need continues to be a major factor in allocation of resources to fight fires. Another increasingly compelling need is to mobilize the public in support of strategic planning for wildland fire management; though allocation of human, material, and financial resources to fighting fires may diminish damages, property owners and residents must also accept responsibility for helping reduce fire risk. Active participation by residents and property owners in both short- and long-term fire management planning is an important element in this endeavor.
