Geology topics

Chiara Forrester

Publications and source records attributed to Chiara Forrester.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2025

Living with wildfire in Chelan County Fire District #3, Chelan County, Washington: 2022 data report

Community wildfire readiness includes homeowner wildfire risk mitigation and wildfire evacuation preparedness. In 2021 and 2022, the Wildfire Research (WiRē) Center partnered with Chelan County Fire District #3 (CCFD #3) to learn how CCFD #3 can effectively engage with residents about preparing for a wildfire event and mitigating wildfire risk around the home. The CCFD #3 residents were responsive to the household survey (38% response rate). Respondents reported being aware of wildfire risk and having taken action to mitigate risk on their properties and prepare for evacuation. However, residents’ perceptions of property-level wildfire risk did not align with wildfire assessments conducted by trained assessors. Residents may benefit from financial assistance to support proper mitigation and educational outreach.

Washington↗

USGS2025

Living with wildfire in West Vail, Eagle County, Colorado: 2022 data report

Community wildfire readiness includes homeowner wildfire risk mitigation and wildfire evacuation preparedness. This report presents results from a household survey distributed to 725 households in West Vail, Colorado in 2022. Results indicate that West Vail survey respondents may not fully understand the risk of damage or property loss due to a wildfire and may benefit from further information about wildfire risk contributors - in general and specific to their property - as well as evacuation preparedness information. Among common sources of wildfire risk information, respondents rated Vail Fire & Emergency Services as the most useful source. Most residents support wildfire risk reduction strategies on nearby public lands.

Colorado↗

USGS2024

Living with wildfire in Santa Fe: 2021 Data Report

The City of Santa Fe is well known for arts, food, and architecture, but it also faces significant risk of wildfire. In 2020, the City of Santa Fe partnered with the Wildfire Research (WiRē) team with the goal of better understanding the needs of residents within the study area and their level of support for wildfire risk mitigation programs. The resulting project centers on two types of property-level data: rapid wildfire risk assessment data and household survey data. We followed the WiRē Rapid Wildfire Risk Assessment (WiRē RA) protocol, which measures parcel-level risk as the sum of a set of 13 attributes related to access to the property, background fuels and topography, vegetation near the home, and building materials. This report summarizes the results of the study. Overall, the study indicated a community that was engaged in preparing for wildfire yet had more that could be done to reduce its risk. Common architectural styles led to generally hardened structures, and respondents reported many risk reduction activities, yet most properties were found to have significant vulnerabilities related to limited defensible space and combustible materials near and attached to dwellings. Although many survey respondents did not perceive these same vulnerabilities on their own properties, survey results nonetheless demonstrated widespread interest for programs intended to reduce wildfire risk at the landscape, community, and individual parcel scales.

New Mexico↗

USGS2024

Living with wildfire in Stemilt Basin, Chelan County, Washington: 2022 Data report

Homeowner wildfire risk mitigation and preparedness are important components of community wildfire readiness. This report presents data collected via rapid wildfire risk assessments to describe the parcel-level wildfire risk of properties within the Stemilt basin, Chelan County, Washington study area. The report also describes household survey data collected from homeowners in the study area, including their perspectives on wildfire risk, outreach preferences, mitigation and preparedness activities, and perceptions of community risk reduction strategies. Results may inform the wildfire risk outreach and programmatic efforts of the local fire department.

Washington↗

USGS2024

Living with wildfire in Lake Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington: 2022 Data report

Community wildfire readiness includes actions taken by residents, including wildfire risk mitigation at the parcel level and evacuation preparedness. This report presents results from two data collection efforts in the Lake Wenatchee Fire & Rescue service district in Chelan County, Washington: parcel level rapid wildfire risk assessments and household surveys sent to the owners of assessed parcels. Respondents reported that they were moderately aware of the risk of wildfire to their home, were discussing wildfire with their neighbors, and were taking action to reduce risk. There are gaps in respondents’ understanding of wildfire risk that might be addressed through educational outreach. Respondents were supportive of wildfire risk reduction strategies at the community level, including fuel treatments and policy options.

Washington↗

USGS2023

The devil is in the details: Variation in public acceptance of fuels treatments across western fire-prone communities

Implementation of broad landscape management goals to confront the wildfire crisis occurs at the project level and is subject to public scrutiny. Although the research literature demonstrates broad public acceptability of fuels treatments, a closer examination of the studies reveals notable variation in acceptance. Survey data from thirteen western U.S. communities using the same measures of acceptability are presented. Results highlight high acceptance with notable variation in treatment type and study location. Results indicate that the devil is in the details.

Western Economics Forum↗

USGS2023

Living with wildfire in Genesee Fire Protection District, Jefferson County, Colorado: 2022 data report

Genesee Fire Protection District (GFPD) and members of the Board contacted the Wildfire Research Center (WiRē) early in 2021. GFPD serves a community of approximately 1,500 homes and 3,600 residents. The community borders the south side of I-70 and runs south up varied topography with varied vegetation to approximately 8,000 feet of elevation and is considered to be at extremely high risk of wildfire. In 2020, GFPD worked with the Forest Stewards Guild to update their Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). GFPD and WiRē collaborated to collect household-level data in an effort that is complementary to the insights provided by the CWPP. A series of scoping meetings that included the GFR Fire Board helped to build a shared understanding of GFPD’s goals, the setting, and the community.

Colorado↗