Title: Code Descriptions and data for “Comparing social constructions of wildfire risk across media, government, and participatory discourse in a Colorado fireshed.”

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2021.1962954

Authors: 
Jacobson, Meredith; Institute for a Sustainable Environment and Department of Sociology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
Smith, Hollie; School of Journalism and Communication, Center for Science Communication Research, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
Huber-Stearns, Heidi R.; Institute for Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
Davis, Emily Jane; Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Forestry and Natural Resources Extension, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Cheng, Antony S.; Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship and Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Deak, Alison; Institute for a Sustainable Environment and Department of Geography, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

Contact: Heidi Huber-Stearns, hhuber@uoregon.edu

Date: 08/11/2021

Abstract: This study examined how wildfire risk is framed by different entities and actors within a common region, during and after experiencing several large wildfire events. Using a social constructionist lens, we viewed wildfire risk as a fluid and variable concept that is socially constructed and framed through public discourse. Inconsistent social constructions of wildfire risk may pose challenges for effective wildfire risk governance and management, which requires the coordination of diverse entities including government, land managers, homeowners, and community groups. We sought to understand differing social constructions of wildfire risk within one region, the Northern Colorado Front Range, across four domains of social discourse: mainstream media coverage, governmental planning documents, a community collaborative group’s meeting notes, and Community Wildfire Protection Plans. Through multiple rounds of qualitative coding, we compared how values at risk, causes of risk, and solutions to mitigate risk are framed across discourse domains. We also identified which agencies, organizations, or other actors’ voices were most prominent within each domain. Our results show inconsistent framings of wildfire risk definition across the data, building upon past literature that has identified divides between fire suppression and mitigation work, as well as disconnects between media representations of fire and perspectives of resource managers and scientists. Lastly, we highlight two examples of cross-cutting discourses - public drinking water and smoke – as concepts that span boundaries and may have the power to generate broader coordination and support for wildfire policy solutions and action.

Keywords: Risk communication, Northern Colorado Front Range, wildfire, smoke, drinking water, watershed protection

Details: This project was funded by the Joint Fire Science Program (Project # 17-1-06-6) in 2017 with the objective exploring how entities involved in wildfire mitigation and suppression can better coordinate actions before, during, and after wildfires. A total of 89 news articles, 14 National Environmental Policy Act documents, 26 community wildfire protection plans, and Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative organizational documents were qualitatively coded and analyzed to identify how wildfire risk was framed and solutions were presented in Larimer County, Colorado between 2008 and 2018. These data consist of all content analysis outputs.