External Shaping or Internal Efficacy? Measurement and Influencing Mechanism of Public Fire Emergency Literacy: Evidence from 36 Major Cities in China

Public Fire Emergency Literacy (PFEL) is a critical determinant that fundamentally shapes individual survivability and the efficacy of societal safety governance—particularly amid intensifying fire risks characterized by growing complexity and destructive potential. Traditional single-perspective or linear analytical frameworks fail to capture PFEL’s multi-causal and configurational nature. To address this gap, this study integrates the Emergency Management Life Cycle Theory with the WSR system approach to measure PFEL across 36 major Chinese cities using 3872 survey responses and explores its multidimensional attributes and generative mechanisms via multiple methods (Delphi technique, entropy weighting, GIS spatial analysis, multiple regression, fsQCA). Key findings: (1) PFEL exhibits a pronounced cognition precedes capability gap with marked demographic heterogeneity; (2) PFEL displays a distinct “Central > Northeast > East > West” hierarchical gradient and notable spatial disequilibrium—core cities in the Central region (e.g., Wuhan and Zhengzhou) outperform traditional first-tier metropolises in the East; (3) physical infrastructure, organizational management, and individual cognition jointly shape PFEL with significant regional heterogeneity—participation in emergency training emerges as the most potent driver; (4) configurational path analysis indicates that PFEL is determined by a complex conjunctive causal mechanism formed by the combined effects of physical facilities, organizational management and individual initiative. Policy implications cover strengthened public emergency response capacity, differentiated policies, and multi-factor collaborative governance. The findings offer theoretical references and practical guidance for improving public resilience systems and emergency resource allocation.