The Mitigated Neighborhood: Exploring Homeowner Associations' Role in Resident Wildfire-Mitigation Actions. Issue 6 (6th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Steffey, Eric; Budruk, Megha; Vogt, Christine
• Is Part Of: Journal of forestry. Volume 118:Issue 6(2020)
• Page Start: 613
• Page End: 624
• Publication Date: 2020-05-06
• Subjects: homeowner -- theory of planned behavior -- WUI; Forests and forestry -- Periodicals; Forests and forestry -- Societies, etc; Forests and forestry -- Terminology; Forests and forestry; Forests and forestry -- Societies, etc; Periodicals; Terminology; 634.905
• DOI: 10.1093/jofore/fvaa019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1201

Abstract

Abstract: Abstract Considerable research has explored homeowner wildfire-mitigation efforts identifying many salient factors that help predict acceptance and behaviors. A growing body of literature is unlocking the dynamics of formal associations' roles in promoting fire adapted communities. This mixed-method study adds to the research by using a planned behavior theoretical lens, to explore homeowner associations' (HOAs') role in resident wildfire mitigation. Through HOA key informant interviews and a survey study of a Western midsized city, our results show that HOAs have a significant impact by providing important information linkages and reducing barriers to completing home mitigation. Most importantly, HOAs act as a neighborhood champion, taking on time-consuming tasks involved in becoming and maintaining a Firewise USA® community status. Many non-HOA neighborhoods lack the capacity to take on such tasks limiting their access to benefits provided by the designation. We take these results and propose avenues to engaging non-HOA neighborhoods.