Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Compliance with preparedness and early evacuation guidelines : An analysis of responsibility, disaster literacy, and situated agency in an Australian bushfire

Hovart, Lucas D. LU ; Morrison, Rosie ; Kuligowski, Erica D. ; Frykmer, Tove LU and McNamee, Margaret LU (2026) In Fire Safety Journal 162.
Abstract

This article examines community resilience through a case study of a community in Australia affected by bushfire in 2024. Drawing on 28 interviews with residents, we analyze preparedness practices and response decisions. In Victoria, Australia, where the community is situated, residents of fire-prone areas receive recommendations concerning preparedness and response from the Country Fire Authority (CFA). Resident interviews explore the extent to which individuals adhere to the guidance provided. The findings reveal both compliance with and divergence from official recommendations. Residents actively engaged in practical, strategic, and relational preparedness measures, yet did not follow guidance to evacuate early during the response... (More)

This article examines community resilience through a case study of a community in Australia affected by bushfire in 2024. Drawing on 28 interviews with residents, we analyze preparedness practices and response decisions. In Victoria, Australia, where the community is situated, residents of fire-prone areas receive recommendations concerning preparedness and response from the Country Fire Authority (CFA). Resident interviews explore the extent to which individuals adhere to the guidance provided. The findings reveal both compliance with and divergence from official recommendations. Residents actively engaged in practical, strategic, and relational preparedness measures, yet did not follow guidance to evacuate early during the response phase. Instead, the residents’ response was shaped by evolving personal risk assessments based on the triangulation of available information. While guidelines and warnings were taken seriously, they were integrated into locally grounded processes of decision-making. The study argues that noncompliance reflects the evaluation of situated agency supported by disaster literacy. Reframing preparedness and response expectations to account for variability and adaptive strategies can strengthen the effectiveness of disaster risk management. The findings underscore the importance of enhancing disaster literacy and developing frameworks that balance institutional guidance with community situated agency, thereby promoting more realistic expectations and pathways to resilience.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Bushfires, Disaster literacy, Egress, Hazard evaluation, Human factors, Response patterns, Risk assessment, Wildfires, WUI
in
Fire Safety Journal
volume
162
article number
104796
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105034307439
ISSN
0379-7112
DOI
10.1016/j.firesaf.2026.104796
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Authors.
id
f0d5ceb6-bcde-4d3a-9957-140d48f89b04
date added to LUP
2026-05-26 15:26:40
date last changed
2026-05-26 15:27:43
@article{f0d5ceb6-bcde-4d3a-9957-140d48f89b04,
  abstract     = {{<p>This article examines community resilience through a case study of a community in Australia affected by bushfire in 2024. Drawing on 28 interviews with residents, we analyze preparedness practices and response decisions. In Victoria, Australia, where the community is situated, residents of fire-prone areas receive recommendations concerning preparedness and response from the Country Fire Authority (CFA). Resident interviews explore the extent to which individuals adhere to the guidance provided. The findings reveal both compliance with and divergence from official recommendations. Residents actively engaged in practical, strategic, and relational preparedness measures, yet did not follow guidance to evacuate early during the response phase. Instead, the residents’ response was shaped by evolving personal risk assessments based on the triangulation of available information. While guidelines and warnings were taken seriously, they were integrated into locally grounded processes of decision-making. The study argues that noncompliance reflects the evaluation of situated agency supported by disaster literacy. Reframing preparedness and response expectations to account for variability and adaptive strategies can strengthen the effectiveness of disaster risk management. The findings underscore the importance of enhancing disaster literacy and developing frameworks that balance institutional guidance with community situated agency, thereby promoting more realistic expectations and pathways to resilience.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hovart, Lucas D. and Morrison, Rosie and Kuligowski, Erica D. and Frykmer, Tove and McNamee, Margaret}},
  issn         = {{0379-7112}},
  keywords     = {{Bushfires; Disaster literacy; Egress; Hazard evaluation; Human factors; Response patterns; Risk assessment; Wildfires; WUI}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Fire Safety Journal}},
  title        = {{Compliance with preparedness and early evacuation guidelines : An analysis of responsibility, disaster literacy, and situated agency in an Australian bushfire}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2026.104796}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.firesaf.2026.104796}},
  volume       = {{162}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}