Fire management – the dynamics of organizations and people

There will undoubtedly be more large-scale wildfires if the status quo prevails. This article assesses what can be done by land managers, communities and politicians to make better decisions that reduce fire risk and impacts. It does so by discussing the ‘how’ and the ‘who’ of fire management – organizations (institutions or agencies, formal or informal) and people (impacted by fire or those working in of such organizations). This review proposes three fundamental requirements for improved fire management: (i) evaluate the natural and ecological aspects of fire in the landscape, (ii) look at the institutions in charge of fire management, for prescribed fires or wildfires, and (iii) work with communities, listen to them and understand how they interact within the landscape before developing engagement methods.