Sarah M. McCaffrey
Title: Research Forester
Unit: People and Their Environments: Social Science Supporting Natural Resource Management and Policy
Address: Northern Research Station
1033 University Place, Suite 360
Evanston, IL 60201-3172
Phone: 847-866-9311; ext. 20
E-mail: Contact Sarah M. McCaffrey
Jump to Publications
Education
- University Of California--Berkeley, Ph.d., Wildland Resource Science, 2002
- University Of California--Berkeley, M.S. Wildland Resource Science, 1995
- Stanford University. B.A. International Relations, 1986
Civic & Professional Affiliations
Society of American Foresters, International Association of Wildland Fire, Society and Natural Resources
Current Research
I conduct and coordinate research to better understand the social dynamics of fire management. I am currently responsible for a National Fire Plan grant examining social acceptability of fuels treatment methods. We have initiated almost two dozen studies in a variety of ecological and geographical settings across the country, examining a range of topics including what shapes acceptability of prescribed fire and thinning, why people do or do not implement defensible space practices, and social issues around post-fire restoration. I also am part of the Fuels Planning synthesis project, a national effort to synthesize current scientific knowledge on fuels treatments from both the ecological and social perspectives and provide it to managers in accessible format.
Why is This Important
Social dynamics are a key part of fire management. No matter how ecologically and technically sound and well planned a treatment, its ultimate implementation will be highly dependant on public acceptance of the efforts. As more people move into high fire hazard areas, their active involvement in fire management will be central to successful efforts to reduce the hazard. As such, understanding their relevant beliefs and expectations, of the landscape and of land management agencies, will be crucial information for managers in developing effective plans to mitigate the fire hazard. My research helps clarify the reality behind much of the conventional wisdom about public beliefs actions in relation to fire and fuels management and what shapes those beliefs and actions. Having a clear and accurate conception of public's views can help ensure that managers' limited resources are directed in the most effective manner.
Future Research
I plan on continuing to explore issues around the social dynamics of fire management. Areas where I am exploring possible research projects include biomass utilization, effectiveness of initiatives to foster management across boundaries such as The Nature Conservancy's Fire Learning Network, and issues related to institutional knowledge and organizational effectiveness. I also hope to develop collaborative research with scientists in other countries with wildfire issues.
Featured Publications
- Steelman, Toddi A.; McCaffrey, Sarah. 2013. Best practices in risk and crisis communication: Implications for natural hazards management. Natural Hazards. 65(1):683-705.
- McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Olsen, Christine S. 2012. Research perspectives on the public and fire management: a synthesis of current social science on eight essential questions. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-104. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 40 p.
- McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Toman, Eric; Stidham, Melanie; Shindler, Bruce. 2012. Social Science Research Related to Wildfire Management: An Overview of Recent Findings and Future Research Needs. International Journal of Wildland Fire. (Special Issue).
- Sundstrom, Shiloh; Nielsen-Pincus, Max; Moseley, Cassandra; McCaffrey, Sarah. 2012. Woody biomass utilization trends, barriers, and strategies: Perspectives of U.S. Forest Service managers. Journal of Forestry. January/February: 16-24.
- McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. 2011. Abstracts of proceedings of the second conference on the human dimensions of wildland fire. In: McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. 2011. Proceedings of the second conference on the human dimensions of wildland fire. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-84. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 113-193.
Additional
Online Publications
- Becker, Dennis R.; McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Abbas, Dalia; Halvorsen, Kathleen E.; Jakes, Pamela; Moseley, Cassandra. 2011. Conventional wisdoms of woody biomass utilization on federal public lands. Journal of Forestry. June: 208-218.
- Vogt, Christine; McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Winter, Greg. 2011. Defensible space features: impact of voluntary versus mandatory programs on a homeowner's attitudes and actions. In: McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. 2011. Proceedings of the second conference on the human dimensions of wildland fire. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-84. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 71-78.
- Stidham, Melanie; Toman, Eric; McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Schinder, Bruce. 2011. Improving an inherently stressful situation: the role of communication during wildfire evacuations. In: McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. 2011. Proceedings of the second conference on the human dimensions of wildland fire. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-84. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 96-103.
- McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Stidham, Melanie; Toman, Eric; Shindler, Bruce. 2011. Outreach programs, peer pressure, and common sense: What motivates homeowners to mitigate wildfire risk?. Environmental Management. 48(3): 475-488.
- McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. 2011. Proceedings of the second conference on the human dimensions of wildland fire. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-84. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 195 p.
- Toman, Eric; Stidham, Melanie; Shindler, Bruce; McCaffrey, Sarah. 2011. Reducing fuels in the wildland urban interface: Community perceptions of agency fuels treatments. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 20: 340-349.
- McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Winter, Greg. 2011. Understanding homeowner preparation and intended actions when threatened by a wildfire. In: McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. 2011. Proceedings of the second conference on the human dimensions of wildland fire. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-84. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 88-95.
- Steelman, Toddi A.; McCaffrey, Sarah M. 2011. What is limiting more flexible fire management—public or agency pressure?. Journal of Forestry. 109(8):454-461.
- McCaffrey, Sarah. 2009. Crucial factors influencing public acceptance of fuels treatments. Fire Management Today. Winter,69(1): 9-12.
- McCaffrey, Sarah M.; Rhodes, Alan. 2009. Public Response to Wildfire: Is the Australian "Stay and Defend or Leave Early" Approach an Option for Wildfire Management in the United States?. Journal of Forestry, Volume 107, Number 1, January/February 2009 , pp. 9-15(7)
- Shindler, Bruce A.; Toman, Eric; McCaffrey, Sarah M. 2009. Public perspectives of fire, fuels, and the Forest Service in the Great Lakes Region: a survey of citizen-agency communication and trust. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 18: 157-164.
- Winter, Greg; McCaffrey, Sarah; Vogt, Christine A. 2009. The role of community policies in defensible space compliance. Forest Policy and Economics. 11: 570-578.
- McCaffrey, Sarah; Moghaddas, Jason J.; Stephens, Scott L. 2008. Different interest group views of fuels treatments: survey results from fire and fire surrogate treatments in a Sierran mixed conifer forest, California, USA. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 17: 224-233.
- Kwon, Jeamok; Vogt, Christine; Winter, Greg; McCaffrey, Sarah. 2008. Forest fuels treatments for wildlife management: do local recreation users agree?. In: LeBlanc, Cherie; Vogt, Christine, comps. Proceedings of the 2007 northeastern recreation research symposium; 2007 April 15-17; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-23. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 132-137.
- Liou, Gwo-Bao; Vogt, Christine; Winter, Greg; McCaffrey, Sarah. 2008. Residents' values and fuels management approaches. In: LeBlanc, Cherie; Vogt, Christine, comps. Proceedings of the 2007 northeastern recreation research symposium; 2007 April 15-17; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-23. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 77-83.
- McCaffrey, Sarah. 2008. Understanding public perspectives of wildfire risk. In: Martin, Wade E.; Raish, Carol; Kent, Brian, eds. Wildfire risk, human perceptions and management implications. Washington, DC. Resources for the Future: 11-22.
- Vogt, Christine; Winter, Greg; McCaffrey, Sarah. 2007. Community views of fuels management: are national forest local recreation users more supportive?. In: Burns, R.; Robinson, K., comps. Proceedings of the 2006 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium; 2006 April 9-11; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-14. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 546-550.
- Sturtevant, Victoria; McCaffrey, Sarah. 2006. Encouraging Wildland Fire Preparedness: Lessons Learned from Three Wildfire Education Programs. In: McCaffrey, S.M., tech. ed. The public and wildland fire management: social science findings for managers. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-1. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 125-136.
- McCaffrey, Sarah M. 2006. Prescribed fire: What influences public approval?. In: Dickinson, Matthew B., ed. 2006. Fire in eastern oak forests: delivering science to land managers, proceedings of a conference; 2005 November 15-17; Columbus, OH. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-1. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 192-198.
- Winter, Greg; Vogt, Christine; McCaffrey, Sarah. 2006. Residents warming up to fuels management: homeowners? acceptance of wildfire and fuels management in the wildland-urban interface. In: McCaffrey, S.M., tech. ed. The public and wildland fire management: social science findings for managers. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-1. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 19-32.
- Monroe, Martha C.; Pennisi, Lisa; McCaffrey, Sarah; Mileti, Dennis. 2006. Social science to improve fuels management: a synthesis of research relevant to communicating with homeowners about fuels management. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-267. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 42 p.
- McCaffrey, S.M. 2006. The public and wildland fire management: social science findings for managers. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-1. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 202 p.
- McCaffrey, Sarah. 2006. What does wildfire risk mean to the public?. In: McCaffrey, S.M., tech. ed. The public and wildland fire management: social science findings for managers. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-1. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 33-45.
- McCaffrey, Sarah M. 2004. Fighting fire with education: what is the best way to reach out to homeowners?. Journal of Forestry 102(5):12-19
- McCafferey, Sarah. 2004. Incline Village, Nevada: Steps to improve community preparedness for wildfire.. Incline Village, Nevada: Steps to improve community preparedness for wildfire. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 4pp.
- Kent, Brian; Gebert, Krista; McCaffrey, Sarah; Martin, Wade; Calkin, David; Schuster, Ervin; Martin, Ingrid; Bender, Holly Wise; Alward, Greg; Kumagai, Yoshitaka; Cohn, Patricia J.; Carroll, Matt; Williams, Dan; Ekarius, Carol. 2004. Social and economic issues of the Hayman Fire. In: Graham, Russell T., ed. Hayman Fire Case Study. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-114. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 315-396.
- McCaffrey, Sarah. 2004. Thinking of Wildfire as a Natural Hazard. Society and Natural Resources 17: 509-516
- Dwyer, John F.; McCaffrey, Sarah M. 2002. The Wildland-Urban Interface: Increasing Significance, Complexity and Contribution. In: Manfredo, Michael J.; Vaske, Jerry J.; Bruyere, Brett L.; Field, Donald R.; Brown, Perry J., eds. Society and Natural Resources - A Summary of Knowledge. Prepared for the 10th International Symosium on Society and Resource Management. Jefferson, MO:329-336
Last Modified:
02/15/2012