Fuels Planning: Science Synthesis and

Integration

Social Issues Fact Sheet: 7

The ìLawsî of Effective Public

Education About Fire Hazards

United States

Department

of Agriculture

Forest Service

Rocky Mountain

Research Station

Research Note

RMRS-RN-21-7-WWW

September 2004

Social Science Team Co-Leads:

Pam Jakes

Sue Barro

USDA Forest Service

North Central Research Station

1992 Folwell Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55108

Fuels planning: Science synthesis and

integration, an interagency research/

management partnership to support

the Ten-Year Fire Plan, led by Russell

T. Graham, RMRS, and Sarah M.

McCaffrey, NCRS.

Synthesizing

Scientific Information

for Fire and Fuels

Project Managers

Pacific Northwest

Research Station

In communicating with people about wildland fire hazards and fuel treatments,

there are many factors to consider. Within the past 10 years, breakthrough research has identified the factors that are most important for effectively communicating about hazards. This is one of several fact sheets that will address wildland fire hazard communication.

The ìLawsî of Effective Communication About Hazards

The following seven ìLawsî of effective public communication should be considered in any state-of-the-art education campaign:

1. Be Clear. Complicated phenomena must be clearly explained in nontechnical terms. Wildland fire and fuels experts generally need help in communicating in nontechnical terms, so hire people who have the skills to work

with the experts to craft a message that will be clear to the public.

2. Use Varied Sources. Information must come from various relevant sources

including technical experts and scientists, and from people familiar to locals.

3. Render Information Consistently and Repeat Often. The information

you provide should be consistent and repeated frequently using a variety

of media. You need to be sure that if the message has changed from what

was offered in the past, that these changes are explained.

Neighbors, friends, and relatives can help spread the message

about wildland fire and fuels management (photo credit: V.

Sturtevant).

The information for this

fact sheet was provided by

Dr. Dennis Mileti and staff

at the Natural Hazards Center in Boulder, Colorado.
The Fuels Planning fact sheets are based on preliminary findings. Information from fact sheets will be synthesized in an upcoming publication.

Social Science Team Fact Sheets

Look for fact sheet topics from the Social Science Team including information on developing personal responsibility for fuels reduction, communicating fire hazard, topics for community fire plans, guidelines for

community education, and the ìgolden ruleî for communicating fire

hazard to people.

Fuels Planning: Synthesis and Integration

This fact sheet is one in a series being produced as part of a larger project

supported by the USDA Forest Service to synthesize new knowledge

and information relevant to fire and fuels management. Fact sheets

address topics related to stand structure, environmental impacts, economics, and human responses to these factors. Information in the fact

sheets is targeted for the dry forests of the Inland West, but is often

applicable across broad regions of the country. For more information,

please visit our Web site at:

www.fs.fed.us/fire/tech_transfer/synthesis/synthesis_index

4. Use a Stream of Communications. Messages

on TV and radio are effective, but what works best

is an information stream using lots of different

media. Over time, that stream should include a

written document mailed directly to peopleís homes.

5. Tell People What to Do. The most important

information that you can give people is to tell them

what they can do before, during, and after an event.

Donít assume they already know.

6. Support People in Their Search for More Information. If your education effort is working,

people will be discussing the topic with family,

neighbors, coworkers, and others in the community. They will often search out more information

on their own to validate and confirm what theyíve

heard. Place additional, accurate information in

readily accessible locations throughout the community. People may also come back to you with

questions. Expect them to seek additional information. Encourage and support it.

7. Use Clear Words and Great Graphics. Clear information works best, so use simple language and

support the language with attractive graphics.

This checklist, prepared by the California Department of Forestry and

Fire Protection, tells people exactly what to do before, during, and after

a wildland fire (the 2-page checklist can be found at: http://www.fire.ca.gov/

php/education_content/downloads/beforeduringandafter.pdf).