Occupational Safety and Health (PhD) / Επαγγελματική Ασφάλεια και Υγεία (PhD)

Wildfires are a significant threat to human lives and the environment, particularly in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). Ways to reduce fire hazard in the WUI are context specific, depending on the type and quantity of vegetation, the susceptibility of the structures to fire, and cultural aspects of the society. In the west coast of Norway, the WUI consists of human constructions, mostly intermingled with a nature type characterised as untreated (during the last 70 years) coastal heathland. This doctoral study ‘Innovative and Sustainable Solutions for Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Risk Management in Costal Norway’ focuses on suggesting evidence based and applicable solutions for managing fire risks in this particular type of WUI, i.e., settlements surrounded by fire-prone areas, specifically unmanaged coastal heathlands. By collaborating with local stakeholders, and through excessive field work, the research identified the underlying drivers of WUI fire disasters and proposes innovative tools, practices, and systems for WUI fire adaptation. The PhD researcher is conducted under the European University of Cyprus (EUC). This doctoral study is part of the research project 'Reducing fire disaster risk through dynamic risk assessment and management' (DYNAMIC) facilitated by the support of Gjensidige Stiftelsen, Western Norway University of Applied Science (HVL), and the Research Council of Norway (RCN) as part of the 'Store Brannløftet' initiative. The principal objective underpinning this initiative is to significantly mitigate the risk associated with fire disasters, by minimizing the possibility of undesirable fire incidents in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and densely wooden settlement along Norway's west coast. Thereby enhancing the safety quotient within the Norwegian societal context. The study aims to answer two research questions: (RQ1) What can be learned from previous WUI fire incidents on the west coast of Norway to inform fire preventive approaches? Moreover, (RQ2) what innovative tools, practices, and systems may be locally applicable and useful for coexisting with fire in the WUI on the west coast of Norway, and how can they be implemented or upscaled? The research emphasizes the importance of proactive risk management in fire-prone environments. Moreover, social innovation is utilized to develop practical and context-related solutions for WUI fire safety. Prescribed burning in the coastal heathland (a fire adapted ecosystem, where the prevailing plant, Calluna Vulgaris (L.) Hull (hereafter Calluna), regenerates through regular burning cycles) is suggested as a risk mitigation tool. Grazing with Nofense (virtual fencing technology) restriction of the animals to reduce biomass in the WUI has also been investigated with positive results. The study was conducted together with local stakeholders in co-creative processes to identify innovative tools, practices, and systems that can be implemented or upscaled for coexisting with fire in the WUI on the west coast of Norway. Through this approach, the study seeks to provide novel and sustainable solutions for WUI fire disaster prevention. The study uses various social science research methods, such as document studies, semi-structured interviews, case studies, living lab, and action research, to provide practical solutions for WUI fire disaster prevention. This research provides significant contributions to the academic field of WUI fire management, particularly in living with fire approaches and integrating fire as part of landscape management in fire-prone environments. Furthermore, the study offers context-specific solutions for WUI fire safety by providing insights to risk perceptions and management of WUI fire disasters in coastal Norway. Overall, this PhD research highlights the importance of creating sustainable socio-ecological systems that foster the well-being of society and the natural environment, thus naturally facilitating fire safe conditions. By providing innovative research methods and practical solutions, this PhD thesis offers valuable insights into coexisting with fire in the wildland-urban interface and creating sustainable solutions for preventing disasters caused by WUI fires. The results have been made readily available in four published academic journal articles. The study has the potential to impact and benefit both local communities and wider society.