Public Perception of Smoke and Wildland Fire in North Carolina and the Influence of Proximity to Fire

Wildland fire (wildfire and prescribed burning) is a major source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the United States, and is associated with negative health impacts such as respiratory morbidities and premature mortality. Prescribed burning is a land management tool frequently used for goals such as ecosystem restoration and wildfire risk reduction, and is most commonly applied in the Southeastern U.S. where the public is especially vulnerable to wildland fire smoke impacts. Public perception of smoke and trust in land managers have been found to be key factors in support for the use of prescribed burning, however little research has been done in gauging public tolerance of smoke and knowledge of its associated health effects. In collaboration with the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, residents of North Carolina were surveyed electronically to evaluate their perceptions of wildfire, prescribed fire, and smoke. Responses were compared with results from previous national-scale U.S. Forest Service phone surveys, and the influence of factors such as wildland-urban interface proximity, historical prescribed burning activity, fire detects, and smoky days were investigated. Willingness to act when experiencing smoke, trusted information sources, and acceptability of sources of smoke were specifically examined. We find that residents in areas near frequent prescribed burning activity are typically more certain in their knowledge and that residents' willingness to act is similar regardless of proximity to fire. This work provides insight into public concerns and possible misconceptions of smoke and wildland fire, which can inform educational efforts about operational prescribed burning programs in the state of North Carolina.