Up-to-date and real-time risk information and instructions for the general public
Looking for solutions for engaging the population in at-risk locations with current or live information and instructions to promote preparedness and effective response.
Problem
The authorities currently responsible for informing the citizens of forest fire risk and active incidents face the difficulties of communicating to a population with several variability factors, for example, proximity to the at–risk area or the active incident, different levels of literacy, different means of access to information, permanent or transient population, among others. Additionally, the audience needs to quickly understand the information and the instructions to follow as needed.
Why the Problem exists?
The problem of inadequate daily or live risk information and instructions for the general population arises from several factors. Firstly, traditional communication channels often fail to provide real-time updates and targeted information on evolving wildfire situations, including changing fire behaviour, evacuation orders, and safety protocols. In contrast, local authorities may have the information but lack the means to deliver it. Limited accessibility to reliable sources, language barriers, and the absence of user-friendly platforms further contribute to the problem, hindering effective communication with the general population during critical wildfire events. The population itself may incorporate non-local individuals, with different fire cultures, different information sources and literacy which again constrains the ability to inform and keep up to date on the local fire conditions and procedures.
Looking for solutions that completely or partially solve the following:
- Live or regular updates of the citizenry on the wildfire situation and what behaviour is expected of citizens; Clear instructions on the procedures.
- The information available locally to people in a given area on their specific problems and response.
- Clear information on risk status and impact.
Requirements
- Multi-channel communication to all or most of the population at risk.
- Multi-cultural and multi-linguistic capabilities and multiple educational levels.
- Current and constantly updated.
Limitation(s)
- Different levels of literacy.
- Different means of access to information.
- Different population profiles: permanent or transient population.
- Communication channels available.
- Lack of specialised personnel.
- Limited funding.
Fire Management Phase(s)
Detection & Response.
Living Labs
Nouvelle Aquitaine Living Lab; Norway-Sweden Living Lab.
Voice of the Living Lab(s)
“Better and more precise risk alert give a clearer message to the public and fire management. It can lead to less fires started by the public, and a more correct level of preparedness. Large fires might be avoided if the resources are more optimally allocated. Better allocation of the fire & rescue resources might in turn save lives, since it will be better chances for evacuation“.
“An efficient and up-to-date tool informing citizens of daily fire risk. Currently, city councils, in charge of informing citizens of forest fire risk, do so by displaying a sheet informing citizens of the level of forest fire risk. This is insufficient to reach all citizens. Any efficient and up-to-date communication tool to reach all citizens, tourists, etc. of the current forest fire risk and potential restricted access“.