Public and private adjustment to the bush fire hazard in Australia: empirical evidence from New South Wales

Summary

The theme of energized hazard adjustment systems is used as a vehicle by which to examine the theory which has emerged from studies of natural, geophysical hazards and evaluate its applicability to the quasi‐natural, biological hazard of bush fire in Australia. In terms of hazard geography bush fires are of special interest as they are one of the few hazards which have evoked a relatively high level of human adjustment, while in terms of hazard management the study is of importance in that, prior to it, relatively little was known about private patterns of adjustment to this particular hazard. The results of the study are largely supportive of the conclusions emerging from other hazard work. Where there are significant differences, these may be traced to the unique nature of the bush fire hazard. The importance of integrating public and private forms of adjustment in order to achieve a comprehensive or postindustrial adjustment level is emphasized.