The Human Dimensions and Partnerships group continued advancing several social science projects this winter and spring, working with partners to better understand how communities perceive, prepare for, and respond to wildfire‑related risks. Recent work includes new insights on smoke communication, homeowner insurance trends, and the economic impacts of post‑fire flooding—information that is increasingly important for state, federal, and local decision‑makers.
The team also published new research on rapid smoke‑survey methods, released multiple white papers, and secured new funding to study fire‑response planning tools. In parallel, the group is collaborating with NAU’s School of Forestry on the development of the new Wildfire Insurance and Resilient Economies (WIRE) program.
Recent Highlights
- Smoke survey research — ERI, Utah State University, and the City of Flagstaff published a study on how to distribute rapid surveys during prescribed fires to better understand public smoke experiences.
- Post‑fire reforestation policy review — The team released a white paper outlining policy opportunities and barriers for post‑fire reforestation in the Four Corners region.
- 4FRI history white paper — ERI published a detailed history of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative from 2010–2023, building on the earlier 1980s–2010 history by Egan and Nielsen (2014).
- PODs research grant — The group received Joint Fire Science Program funding with Colorado State University to study how Potential Operational Delineations (PODs) are used to pre‑plan fire response across landscapes.
- Wildfire insurance and economics — The team is expanding work on wildfire insurance and economic impacts and is collaborating with NAU’s School of Forestry on the new Wildfire Insurance and Resilient Economies (WIRE) program.
