Focus Group/Survey Instruments

This study explores the decision-making processes of fire partners in relation to National Weather Service (NWS) fire weather products, such as Fire Weather Watches (FWW) and Red Flag Warnings (RFW). While these products are designed to alert fire management personnel and the public to critical fire weather conditions, there is limited research on how they are actually used in practice. Through 19 focus groups with 85 participants across all six NWS regions, the first phase of this research examines how these partners interpret and use fire weather information from the NWS and other sources to guide operational decisions leading up to wildfires. The second phase entails similar objectives, but through a survey of fire personnel nationwide. The last phase of the research entails the publics perception and understanding of NWS fire weather products. This will be completed via a nationwide survey. Instruments from each phase will be published here as the study progresses.

Audience is for natural hazard social scientists, particularly interested in the fire hazard.