Citation

Davis EJ, Abrams J, Wollstein K. Disasters 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

PhD student, University of Idaho.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/disa.12389

PMID

31294854

Abstract

In the western United States, Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs) are volunteer groups of private landowners trained and authorized to respond to rangeland fires in partnership with government agencies. We examined the structure and functioning of RFPAs in Oregon and Idaho to characterize this understudied model for wildfire response. RFPAs represent an expanding type of disaster response organization that interfaces with established fire suppression entities, but emergence manifested in some RFPA response behaviors. These tensions appeared to be lessening and mediated with time, recognition of the issues, and increased experience on fires and in trainings that fostered new mutual understandings. There is a need for continued examination of the effect of repeat experience in developing the characteristics of response organizations; and of how the interface between established and other types of organizations may be improved for more effective cooperative disaster response. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en