Risk Communication Applied to Community-Based Fire Mitigation and Management for Historic Areas

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to discuss the association of environmental information on fire-prevention resources and fire risk by utilizing a workshop in which a risk-communication platform is built for community-based fire mitigation in historic areas. Specifically, local community leaders, Fire Department and Cultural Affairs Bureau officers, heritage building managers, and historic building supporting teams have been interviewed and invited to a workshop to express and exchange their opinions on fire-risk perceptions and fire-mitigation issues and strategies in historic areas. The results revealed that Fire Department and Cultural Affairs Bureau officers failed to communicate with other stakeholders on fire-mitigation strategies. On the other hand, local residents, private supporting teams, and heritage building managers indicated that they participated less in fire-safety exercises because the fire-mitigation plan uses a top-down approach. Consequently, a positive public participation process for fire safety in historic areas relied on the personal characteristics of local leaders. Thus, this study suggests that heritage building managers and local residents have to strengthen their willingness to participate and communicate in the cooperative system of local fire safety. Finally, this study describes a model of fire mitigation in historic areas which requires an integrative organization for fire department, educational materials of regional fire safety for local people, and an up-to-date regional disaster-mitigation plan.