Abstract Manager

Wildfires often require rapid evacuation to save lives, leading residents to make quick and context-specific transportation decisions that may differ between countries and cultures. This study examines intended evacuation behaviours during wildfires, focusing on promptness, departure time, and cross-country differences. Surveys were conducted across Canada, the United States, and Australia (with sample sizes of 1,366, 1,490, and 1,173, respectively) and analyzed using advanced choice modelling techniques to estimate factors influencing time-related decisions. The findings emphasized the importance of preparedness, reasons for evacuating, and risk perception in shaping responses to emergencies.

Moreover, results identified country differences and similarities in evacuation preparedness time. For instance, employment, age, and income were factors relevant only in the U.S. context, while gender was significant exclusively in the Australian context. For all three countries, households with older adults were less likely to evacuate promptly, while households with children were more likely to evacuate promptly. The study also revealed that complex models had very minimal fit improvement compared to simpler models. These insights on evacuation decisions and departure times, especially across jurisdictional boundaries, can assist in improved wildfire evacuation plans, more inclusive emergency communication strategies and better-informed, real-time decision-making during wildfire emergencies.