Skip to main content
Author(s):
Gregory Larson, Vita Wright, Kelly Rossetto, Georgi Rausch, Andrea Richards, Stephanie Durnford
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Fire Communication & Education
Human Dimensions of Fire Management
Crew Dynamics
Decisionmaking & Sensemaking
High Reliability Organizing
Human Factors of Firefighter Safety
Leadership
Organizational Culture & Identity
Organizational Learning & Innovation
Psychological Safety

NRFSN number: 15221
FRAMES RCS number: 12494
Record updated:

The wildland fire community has spent the past decade trying to understand and account for the role of human factors in wildland fire organizations. Social research that is relevant to managing fire organizations can be found in disciplines such as social psychology, management, and communication. However, such research has been published primarily for scientific and business audiences, and much of the fire community has not been exposed to it. Here, we have compiled and organized knowledge from a variety of social science disciplines so that it can be used to improve organizational practices related to firefighter and public safety, to assess the effectiveness of safety campaigns, and to improve firefighter safety trainings. This annotated reading list summarizes approximately 270 books, articles, and online resources that address scientific and management concepts helpful for understanding the human side of fire management. The first section, Human Factors and Firefighting, introduces readers to key workshops and writings that led to the recognition that human factors are prime ingredients of firefighter safety. The second section, Foundations for Understanding Organizations, consists of social science research that provides a foundation for understanding organizational dynamics. This section includes readings on decision making and sensemaking, organizational culture, identification and identity, leadership and change, organizational learning, and teams and crews. The third section, Understanding Organizations in High Risk Contexts, explores organizations that deal regularly with risk, uncertainty and crisis. This section includes readings on risk and uncertainty, high reliability organizing, and crisis communication. The publication concludes with Internet resources available for those interested in the management of fire organizations.

Citation

Larson, Gregory; Wright, Vita; Spaulding, Cade; Rossetto, Kelly; Rausch, Georgi; Richards, Andrea; Durnford, Stephanie 2007. Using social science to understand and improve wildland fire organizations: an annotated reading list. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-201. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 82 p.