@article {bnh-1745, title = {Predictors of south-eastern Australian householders{\textquoteright} strengths of intentions to self-evacuate if a wildfire threatens: two theoretical models}, journal = {International Journal of Wildland Fire}, volume = {23}, year = {2014}, month = {11/11/2014}, pages = {1176-1188}, chapter = {1176}, abstract = {

Householder evacuation in the face of a wildfire threat is the survival option advocated by fire agencies. However, late evacuation is common and has resulted in loss of life. The primary aim of this study was to investigate potential predictors of householders{\textquoteright} strength of intention to leave early in response to a bushfire threat warning. A survey of 584 residents of bushfire-prone locations in south-eastern Australia was conducted. Theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and protection motivation theory (PMT) were used to explore predictors of strength of householders{\textquoteright} intentions to leave, or to stay and defend following a bushfire warning. TPB was a useful predictor of strength of intention to leave, but PMT was not such a useful predictor of strength of intention to leave. Householder efficacy and self-characterisation were important contributors, whereas perceptions of severity and susceptibility to threat were not found to be significant contributors. Neither model performed well in predicting strength of intention to stay and defend. The findings are discussed in relation to community wildfire safety research and practice.

}, keywords = {Natural hazards, stay or go policy}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WF13219}, url = {http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=WF13219}, author = {Jim McLennan and Sean Cowlishaw and Paton, Douglas and Beatson, Ruth and Elliott, Glenn} } @article {bnh-1746, title = {Psychological differences between south-eastern Australian householders{\textquoteright} who intend to leave if threatened by a wildfire and those who intend to stay and defend}, journal = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction}, volume = {11}, year = {2014}, month = {29/11/2014}, pages = {35-46}, chapter = {35}, abstract = {

Disastrous wildfires have occurred often in south-eastern Australia. Following multi-fatality wildfires in Victoria on 7 February 2009 the national approach to community wildfire safety, {\textquoteleft}Prepare, stay and defend or leave early{\textquoteright}, came under intense critical scrutiny. The approach was revised subsequently so as to emphasise leaving as the safest option in the event of a wildfire warning. This study reports findings from a survey of 584 residents of at-risk locations. The majority (47\%) reported that they intended to leave if warned of a bushfire threat. However, a substantial minority (24\%) reported that they intended to stay and defend their home. A further 29\% reported that they intended to wait and see what developed before making a final decision. Those intending to leave differed from those intending to stay and defend in several ways. Those intending to leave were characterised generally by being more concerned about the danger posed by bushfires, they viewed themselves as more vulnerable to bushfire threat and they were worried about their house being destroyed in their absence. Those intending to stay and defend were motivated, mostly, to protect their valued property and they believed that their efforts would be successful. They did not perceive themselves to be risk takers. Those intending to leave generally reported rather low levels of preparations for leaving safely. An appreciable percentage of those intending to stay and defend reported levels of preparations for safe defence which were probably inadequate for safe and effective defence.

}, keywords = {Bushfire; Community safety; Evacuation; Property defence}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2014.11.008}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420914001162}, author = {Jim McLennan and Paton, Douglas and Beatson, Ruth} } @article {BF-2789, title = {What Applied Social Psychology Theories Might Contribute to Community Bushfire Safety Research After Victoria{\textquoteright}s {\textquotedblleft}Black Saturday{\textquotedblright}}, journal = {Australian Psychologist}, year = {2011}, month = {08/2011}, abstract = {From 1900 to 2008, bushfires in Australia claimed 552 lives. Partly in response to disastrous fires in 1967 and 1983, a national community bushfire safety policy emerged, summarised as {\textquotedblleft}prepare, stay and defend, or leave early.{\textquotedblright} On 7 February 2009, {\textquotedblleft}Black Saturday,{\textquotedblright} Victoria experienced Australia{\textquoteright}s worst-ever day of bushfires: 173 people died as a result and more than 2,000 homes were destroyed. Three investigations in the aftermath of the fires indicated significant shortcomings in the effectiveness of current approaches to community bushfire safety generally. We examine whether application of social psychological theories from the fields of health promotion and injury prevention might play a role in improving community bushfire safety. We review four theoretical approaches: the theory of planned behaviour, the extended protection motivation theory, the extended parallel process model, and the terror management health model. We conclude that there is good evidence supporting the general utility of each of these theories as predictive of health-promoting behaviour. Furthermore, there are sound reasons to conclude that they hold promise for addressing important problematic issues in community bushfire safety practice.}, issn = {00050067}, doi = {10.1111/j.1742-9544.2011.00041.x}, author = {Beatson, Ruth and Jim McLennan} } @article {BF-1339, title = {Factors impacting on recruiting and retaining Australia{\textquoteright}s volunteer firefighters: Some reseach evidence}, journal = {Australian Journal on Volunteering}, volume = {12}, number = {2}, year = {2007}, author = {Jim McLennan and Birch, Adrian and Beatson, Ruth and Sean Cowlishaw} } @proceedings {BF-1323, title = {Volunteer firefighting: A job for a woman?}, year = {2007}, address = {Adelaide}, author = {Jim McLennan and Birch, Adrian and Beatson, Ruth and Sean Cowlishaw} } @article {BF-1307, title = {Australia{\textquoteright}s women volunteer firefighters: A literature review and research agenda}, journal = {Australian Journal on Volunteering }, volume = {2}, number = {10}, year = {2005}, pages = {18-27}, url = {http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/html/s02_article/default.asp?nav_top_id=61\&nav_cat_id=162}, author = {Beatson, Ruth and Jim McLennan} } @article {BF-1333, title = {Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Issues: A Review of the Literature}, year = {2004}, url = {http://www.bushfirecrc.com/sites/default/files/managed/resource/report_4_lit_reviewd3.pdf}, author = {Jim McLennan and Birch, Adrian and Acker, Felix and Beatson, Ruth and Jamieson, Robert} }