A Survey of Rural Population Density and Forest Fire Occurrence in the South, 1956-1970

Abstract

Rural residents comprise a high risk potential population regarding person-caused wildfire incidence in the South. However, rural population density (RPD=numker of people per square mile) was found to be indeterminately associated with fire occurrence rate (FOR=number of fires per million acres protected) in protected lands in 13 Southern states. Thus, changes in density patterns of rural residents are poor indicators of real or potential wildfire incidence, and Southern Regional fire problems most likely result from the activities of a small percentage of the total rural population at risk.

Keywords

rural residents, risk, fire occurrence rate, rural population density, southern region, fire incidence

Citation

Altobellis, A.T. 1983. A Survey of Rural Population Density and Forest Fire Occurrence in the South, 1956-1970. Res. Note SO-294. New Orleans, LA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 4 p.