@article {bnh-3437, title = {Into the firing line: civilian ingress during the 2013 {\textquotedblleft}Red October{\textquotedblright} bushfires, Australia}, journal = {Natural Hazards}, volume = {80}, year = {2016}, month = {01/2016}, pages = {521-538}, chapter = {521}, abstract = {

A major issue for bushfire management arises when residents decide to leave a safe area and enter the fire zone to rescue or defend their property, pets, loved ones or other assets. Here, we use statistical and narrative analyses of data from an online survey and semi-structured interviews with residents affected by the 2013 {\textquotedblleft}Red October{\textquotedblright} bushfires in New South Wales, Australia. The survey results revealed that of the 58\ \% of respondents who were not at home at the time the threat became apparent, 65\ \% indicated that they attempted to get home prior to the arrival of the fire front. In doing so, many endangered themselves, their family, friends and emergency services personnel. This paper discusses the shortcomings of bushfire survival plans and official risk communication, which do not cater well for household units that are divided or unattended when a bushfire starts. Findings suggest that to enhance bushfire safety and preparedness, emergency managers should acknowledge and speak more directly to the specific constraints to action for particular social groups at the wildland{\textendash}urban interface, including families with school-age children, commuters and absentee landholders.

}, doi = {10.1007/s11069-015-1982-5}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-015-1982-5}, author = {Wilkinson, Carrie and Eriksen, Christine and Trent Penman} } @article {bnh-2231, title = {Fire, water and everyday life: Bushfire and household defence in a changing climate}, journal = {Fire Safety}, volume = {78}, year = {2015}, month = {11/2015}, pages = {102-110}, chapter = {102}, abstract = {

This paper examines how the availability or scarcity of water influenced the survival related decisions of households during the October 2013 State Mine Fire in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. Narrative analysis of semi-structured interviews with 18 households impacted by the bushfire revealed that drought conditions in the months preceding the bushfire left many households dependent on non-reticulated water supplies vulnerable at the time the fire threat became apparent. Despite considerable preparations for water storage and usage during the fire, {\textquotedblleft}weak links{\textquotedblright} in planning (e.g., top-ups, failure of pumps, generators and hoses) meant water was not accessible when needed most. This paper discusses a gap in bushfire safety scholarship on water usage and everyday trade-offs amongst residents in areas independent of reticulated (mains) water supplies. Findings suggest a need for more detailed and consistent information in official bushfire safety advice on storing water prior to a bushfire and effective water distribution systems for household defence and fire fighting.

}, doi = {10.1016/j.firesaf.2015.08.005}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379711215300187$\#$articles}, author = {Eriksen, Christine}, editor = {Wilkinson, Carrie} } @article {bnh-2390, title = {Gendered responses to the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires in Victoria, Australia}, journal = {Geographical Research}, year = {2015}, month = {11/2015}, abstract = {

This paper presents findings from a gendered analysis of resident responses to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires (wildfires) in Victoria, Australia. One hundred and seventy-three people lost their lives in the bushfires and more than 2000 houses were destroyed. Previous research on Black Saturday has largely focused on issues of resident preparedness and response, with limited consideration of the role of gender in household decisions and actions. This paper examines the gendered dimensions of risk awareness, preparedness and response among households affected by the bushfires. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with over 600 survivors and a questionnaire of 1314 households in fire-affected areas. Analysis revealed that women more often wanted to leave than men, who more often wanted to stay and defend property against the bushfires. Nevertheless, findings suggest that broad-brush characterisations of staying to defend as a masculine response and leaving as a feminine response are misguided. Although some women expressed a strong desire to leave, others were resolute on staying to defend. Equally, while some men were determined to stay and defend, others had never considered it an option. Despite this, the research identified numerous instances where disagreement had arisen as a result of differing intentions. Conflict most often stemmed from men{\textquoteright}s reluctance to leave, and was most apparent where households had not adequately planned or discussed their intended responses. The paper concludes by considering the degree to which the findings are consistent with other research on gender and bushfire, and the implications for bushfire safety policy and practice.

}, url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1745-5871.12162/abstract}, author = {J Whittaker and Eriksen, Christine and Katharine Haynes} } @article {2040, title = {Bushfire and everyday life: Examining the awareness-action {\textquoteleft}gap{\textquoteright} in changing rural landscapes}, journal = {Geoforum}, volume = {41}, year = {2010}, month = {10/2010}, pages = {814 - 825}, abstract = {

In this paper we use the notion of {\textquoteleft}everyday life{\textquoteright} to critically examine an apparent {\textquoteleft}gap{\textquoteright} between bushfire risk awareness and preparedness amongst diverse landholders in rural landscapes affected by amenity-led in-migration in southeast Australia. Landholders were found to bring their own agency to bushfire preparedness in the relationships between everyday procedures, dilemmas, and tradeoffs. Consequently, regardless of landholders{\textquoteright} awareness levels, attitudes towards bushfire and natural resource management influence if, how, and to what extent landowners prepare for bushfires. We argue that not only is the {\textquoteleft}gap{\textquoteright} complex but also paradoxical in that it is both evident in, and constituted by, landholder attitudes and action and simultaneously dissolved in their practices and decision-making in everyday life. Three dilemmas of everyday life in particular were found to underpin these attitudes: costs (in terms of monetary and time values), gender roles, and priorities. Using a mixed-methods research approach, this simultaneous cultural construction and material nature of bushfire in everyday life is mapped out through landholders{\textquoteright} narratives and actions that embody living with fire on the land. The place of bushfire in landholders{\textquoteright} everyday life has direct relevance to recent international discussions of the vulnerability of the growing number of people living in bushfire-prone rural-urban interface areas.

}, issn = {167185}, doi = {10.1016/j.geoforum.2010.05.004}, author = {Eriksen, Christine and Gill, Nicholas} } @article {BF-2431, title = {The gendered dimensions of bushfire in changing rural landscapes in Australia}, journal = {Journal of Rural Studies}, volume = {26}, year = {2010}, month = {10/2010}, pages = {332 - 342}, abstract = {This paper examines gender differences in awareness, preparedness and attitudes towards bushfire amongst landholders in rural landscapes affected by amenity-led in-migration in southeast Australia. It considers the potential of conceptualising bushfire not as a gender-neutral natural phenomenon but as an important means by which traditional gender roles and power relations within rural landscapes are maintained. Landholders were found to uphold conventional views of bushfire management as {\textquotedblleft}men{\textquoteright}s business{\textquotedblright} despite changing social circumstances. Consequently, key gender differences exist within landholders{\textquoteright} bushfire risk awareness, bushfire knowledge, the perceived need for bushfire preparedness measures, the willingness to perform certain tasks, and the belief in personal capacity to act. We argue that covert and less visible as well as overt gender roles and traditions are important factors in understanding landholders{\textquoteright} engagement with bushfire management. When gendered dimensions of bushfire are investigated in the context of hegemony, a paradox emerges between women choosing not to take control of their own bushfire safety and women being denied the opportunity to take control. The complex and contradictory actions and attitudes to bushfire that materialise through an analysis of gendered social experiences complicate attempts to create more gender-sensitive frameworks for bushfire management. The tenacious and embedded nature of gender role divisions within both public and private spheres was furthermore found to act as economic, social and political stumbling blocks for empowerment opportunities. Using a mixed-methods research approach, this paper maps out gendered dimensions of bushfire through landholders{\textquoteright} narratives and actions. The implications of these dimensions for bushfire management have direct relevance to recent international discussions of the vulnerability of the growing number of people living in bushfire-prone rural{\textendash}urban interface areas.}, doi = {10.1016/j.jrurstud.2010.06.001}, author = {Eriksen, Christine and Gill, Nicholas and Head, Lesley} }