Includes bibliographical references (pages 261-301) and index.
Contents:
Wildfires: we have a problem -- Why do wildfires happen? -- Who lights fires and why? -- Ignition patterns -- Current prevention approaches -- Local government and bushfire prevention: the case of Victoria, Australia -- Empowering people and communities to address wildfire prevention -- Prevention of wildfire at the expense of the environment -- Fires amid a flood of data -- A new approach to the prevention of wildfires -- Prevention programs.
Summary:
In the context of climate change, world population growth and crashing ecological systems, wildfire is often a catastrophic and traumatic event, its impact can include loss of life, life-changing injuries, long-term psychological stress, increases in domestic violence, destruction of properties, business and livestock; long-term housing insecurity, increased insurance premiums, fire-fighting, legal and health costs; as well as significant changes and species losses in the natural environment. In Australia, an average of 4,500 wildfires occur weekly. Yet how to prevent these wildfires, 85% of which are caused by human activities, has received extraordinarily little attention. The current approach to the prevention of arson can be summarised as small in scale, uncoordinated and rarely evaluated. This book is the culmination of over a decade of research into wildfires and arson; taking an interdisciplinary approach to comprehensively understand the topic.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.