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Article
The Economic Effects of Large Wildfires
JFSP Research Project Reports
  • Cassandra Mosley, Dr., University of Oregon
  • Krista Gebert, Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station
  • Pamela Jakes, Dr., Forest Service Northern Research Station
  • Laura Leete, Dr., University or Oregon
  • Max Nielsen-Pincus, Dr., University of Oregon
  • Emily Jane Davis, Dr., University of Oregon
  • Autumn Ellison, University of Oregon
  • Cody Evers, University of Oregon
  • Branden Rishel, University of Oregon
  • Shiloh Sundstrom, University of Oregon
Date of this Version
1-1-2013
Document Type
Article
Citation

Final Report: JFSP Project Number 09-1-10-3

Comments

US government work.

Abstract

Large wildfires disrupt the lives of workers, families, and employers. However, fire suppression and recovery efforts may provide economic opportunities. Unlike with other natural hazards, there has been little research about how wildfires affect local economies. The purpose of this project was to analyze the effects of large wildfires on labor markets and examine how fire suppression spending may mediate these effects. Main findings from this research suggest that (1) in the short term, labor market impacts from large wildfires are positive during the course of a fire, (2) in the long-­‐term, large wildfires lead to greater economic instability by amplifying seasonal variation in employment, (3) local capture of suppression spending helps mediate negative labor market impacts, and (4) local business capacity to capture suppression contracts varies and can be measured by the number of suppression-­‐related vendors active in the county.

Citation Information
Cassandra Mosley, Krista Gebert, Pamela Jakes, Laura Leete, et al.. "The Economic Effects of Large Wildfires" (2013)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/max_nielsen-pincus/20/