Creating Defensible Space In The Wildland Urban Interface

We examined the effect that basic beliefs about natural resources and fire management have on an individual's decision to create defensible space around his or her residence in the urban-wildland interface. Using data from a mailback questionnaire, respondents in north central Minnesota were clustered by basic value-laden beliefs toward forest and fire management and compared across a number of perceptions and behaviors related to creating defensible space around residences. Clusters differed in attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control as they relate to creating defensible space in the urban-wildland interface. In addition, relative effects of these perceptions on behavior intention and behavior differed across cluster. Implications lie in understanding differences in motivations and reasons for support of strategies for managing fires near the urban-wildland interface which will contribute to an improved integration of land management and public concerns and interests.

The appearance of Oscar Newman's Defensible SpaceÓ in 1972 signaled the establishment of a new criminological subdiscipline that has come to be called by many Crime Prevention Through Environmental DesignÓ or CPTED. Over the years, Mr. Newman's ideas have proven to have significant merit in helping the Nation's citizens reclaim their urban neighborhoods. This casebook will assist public & private organizations with the implementation of Defensible Space theory. This monograph draws directly from Mr. Newman's experience as consulting architect. Illustrations.

The conclusion of the author was to begin a campaign to educate at risk homeowners about creating a defensible space around their home and introducing vegetation which is resistant to ignition.

This hardworking, actionable guide is a must-have for homeowners looking to fight the risks of wildfire spreading to their homes and property. Wildfires are burning over longer seasons and more intensely than ever before, and everyone living in a wildland-urban interface or wildland-adjacent area should take precautionary steps to mitigate the risk of property damage. In Firescaping Your Home, Adrienne Edwards and Rachel Schleiger provide expert guidance and specific recommendations on how to harden your home against fire and create defensible space that is lush and attractive. They also provide in-depth native plant lists of hundreds of species that have evolved to coexist with fire in the West, and show how and why including these on your property sustains wildlife and can actually be your most powerful defense.