Wildfire Education: A Review Across the Globe

Abstract

AbstractRecent projections suggest that wildfires will occur more often and with higher intensity due to the changing climate. In this context, it is vital to educate the population to be ready and prepared to deal with these events. This book chapter reviews the state of the art of educational materials on wildfires worldwide that are available online. A total of 225 references on the matter were retrieved. The materials are from all five continents, involving 36 countries and written in 23 languages. Most of them are from regions with a Mediterranean climate with fire-prone ecosystems in which, for the last decades, wildfires have negatively affected the population. Regarding the target audience, most materials retrieved focused on the general public (about 48%), followed by students from various age groups (around 40%). Written documents, websites, and videos are the most frequent materials for the general public. As for students, a greater variability of pedagogical materials is available, ranging from mobile phone applications and digital and experimental activities to slides for classes and reading materials. The remaining materials focus on the rural population and firefighters’ training. Most references present the main concepts and ecological aspects of fire, along with safety and prevention measures. However, few discuss climate change, recovery, and socio-economic or health concerns. This gap should be addressed in the future wildfire educational materials to better prepare and inform society.