Wildfire risks and values as identified by members of Oregon and Idaho Rangeland Fire Protection Associations

Point data were collected from key informants in southeastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho regarding perceptions of wildfire risks and values across local landscapes. Key informants included members of Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPA) and the Bureau of Land Management officials with whom they interact. Data were collected as part of a broader study on Rangeland Fire Protection Associations and their contributions to fire-adapted communities. This research was performed during 2015-2016 using a qualitative interview and mapping process with two case study RFPAs in Oregon (Crane and Jordan Valley) and two in Idaho (Owyhee and Mountain Home). Perspectives on RFPA and BLM values and risks were gathered across their respective landscapes by marking up paper. Questions guided them to indicate places perceived to be at high risk of wildfire, places where fire may be beneficial/destructive, and places important to the community to protect from wildfire. This data publication contains the non-confidential point data compiled from these efforts.
The purpose of collecting this data was to obtain information about Rangeland Fire Protection Associations in order to meet research objectives, which were to: 1) analyze the effectiveness of the Rangeland Fire Protection Association model; 2) analyze the alignment of capabilities and values at risk across rural landscapes; and 3) develop conceptual models and generate hypotheses about the role of community based fire response organizations in encouraging fire-adapted communities.