Preparing for wildfire evacuation and alternatives: Exploring influences on residents’ intended evacuation behaviors and mitigations

Understanding residents' intended evacuation behaviors is an increasingly important component of managing complex wildfire events in the United States and elsewhere. Growing evidence suggests that local populations consider a range potential during fire events, yet fewer efforts explore rural intentions or their relationship to mitigations reduce risk aid suppression. This study explores among wildland-urban interface residents Pend Oreille County, Washington, USA. We how mitigation performance (e.g., fuel reduction efforts, structure improvements, active firefighting preparation) differs across three emergent categories evaluate whether factors correlate with participants’ intentions. Our results suggest relatively high proportion area intend stay defend property from wildfire, smaller proportions intending evacuate shelter place. Individuals who are more likely implement strategies when compared those found elements residency status, sex, age, presence children home, perceptions personal efficacy was prepared enough not need were significant influences on group affiliation. For instance, part-time significantly correlated evacuate, while full-time defend. Greater agreement needed because well-prepared related staying defending over evacuating.