Risk perceptions after wildfires: insights from Bijie, China and comparisons with other countries

Background Wildfires are increasingly frequent and intense due to climate change and human activities. Public risk perceptions after wildfires play a critical role in wildfire management, but there is a lack of specific studies in China. Aims This study focused on Bijie, China, to analyze local perceptions and compare them with global cases. It investigated how factors such as information about fire situations and economic losses, trust in government and confidence in tackling wildfires influenced risk perceptions after wildfires, and explored how risk perceptions differed across cultural contexts in China and in other countries. Methods Using the ‘information-trust-confidence’ framework, a survey of 408 residents in Bijie was conducted. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to assess the relationships between risk perceptions and factors. A comparative analysis with the United States (US), Australia, Canada, Europe and other regions was also performed. Results There is a negative correlation between risk perception and each of trust, information and confidence. Older people and males showed lower risk perceptions, while ethnic minorities have lower perceptions compared to the Han ethnic group in China. International research on risk perceptions after wildfires has highlighted diverse methodologies and yielded valuable insights, with comparisons revealing distinct differences across countries and regions.