Opportunity to PARTICIPATE IN WILDFIRE THREATS STUDY

Are you interested in participating in a study on wildfire threats in Northern California?

I am currently recruiting interview participants for a study focused on the threats of wildfire, smoke, and power disruption facing individuals and communities in Northern California, specifically Lake, Tehama, and Tuolumne Counties. I’d like to learn from residents about their experiences with these threats in recent years through interviews.

• Timing: Interviews are being conducting now (Feb-May 2023), last about 1-hour, and will be held virtually (over Zoom) moving forward. I will provide a $25 gift card to participants in thanks for their time. Project results will be available by end of 2023.

• Requirements: To participate you must be at least 18 years of age, and live in Lake, Tehama, or Tuolumne Counties.

• Topics: I will ask residents to share their experiences with wildfire risk, smoke, and power shutoffs, such as the actions they have taken and the barriers they have experienced when responding to these threats. 

• Products/why this might be useful to you: This study will result in a short report on key findings of relevance to communities experiencing these threats and at least one presentation of findings. A peer-reviewed journal article will also be generated.  

• Research team: This study is led by me, Dr. Francisca Santana, a California resident (from Butte County and the Bay Area), and members of the Western Forest and Fire Initiative (WFFI) at the University of Michigan. The WFFI is a research program focused on responsive and practical research on forests, fires, and communities in the western U.S.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please reach out to me at fsantana[at]umich.edu. Also if you know of other folks in your area who might also be interested in participating, please feel free to share this invitation with them.