Wildfire and poverty: an overview of the interactions among wildfires, fire-related programs, and poverty in the Western States

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Date

2001-12

Authors

Niemi, Ernest G.
Lee, Kristin

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Center for Watershed and Community Health, Mark O. Hatfield School of Government, Portland State University

Abstract

Wildfires and poverty are both common in the West. Wildfires intensify poverty by having a pervasive, disproportionately negative impact on those households and communities lacking adequate resources to reduce the flammability of nearby wildlands, fire-proof homes and other structures, respond quickly when wildfires occur, and recover from economic losses resulting from fires. The impacts also go in the reverse direction, with poverty increasing the incidence of wildfires, raising the costs of fighting fires, and creating additional risks for firefighters.

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116 p.

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