Game Theory in Disaster Management: Enhancing Collaborative Prescribed Fire Strategies for Public and Private Stakeholders

Abstract

Prescribed fires (Rx) reduce wildfire risks and support ecosystem health, but their management is complicated by conflicting objectives between public and private stakeholders. Public agencies focus on community safety and ecological preservation, while private landowners and businesses prioritize economic concerns and liability risks. Current Rx management frameworks fail to address these conflicting goals, often focusing on individual stakeholders rather than the trade-offs between public and private interests. This research aims to develop a game-theoretical framework to facilitate collaboration between stakeholders with differing priorities. The primary research question is: How can stakeholders collaborate to optimize Rx operations, reduce wildfire risks, and improve environmental and economic outcomes? To address this, the study will: 1) Identify and analyze conflicting objectives through surveys, interviews, and literature review, providing a comprehensive understanding of stakeholder perspectives; 2) Develop a game-theoretical model to quantify trade-offs and identify strategies for cooperation, focusing on cost-sharing, risk distribution, and ecological impacts; and 3) Design a multi-stakeholder engagement framework to improve communication, decision-making, and collaboration using simulation tools and decision-support systems. This research contributes to Rx management by enhancing stakeholder collaboration, leading to increased Rx use, reduced wildfire risks, and better ecosystem preservation. The decision-support tools developed will aid fire managers and policymakers in making data-driven decisions, with the findings shared through conference presentations, policy briefs, and academic publications