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Understanding human behaviour in wildland-urban interface fires: a South African case study using reflexive thematic analysis
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867614087102332928 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Van Heerden, Kara Annelize |
| author2 | Flores-Quiroz, Natalia |
| author_browse | Flores-Quiroz, Natalia Van Heerden, Kara Annelize |
| author_facet | Flores-Quiroz, Natalia Van Heerden, Kara Annelize |
| author_sort | Van Heerden, Kara Annelize |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134850 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:27.621Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134850 Understanding human behaviour in wildland-urban interface fires: a South African case study using reflexive thematic analysis Van Heerden, Kara Annelize Flores-Quiroz, Natalia Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering. Wildland-urban interface -- South Africa Wildfires -- South Africa Disasters -- Management -- South Africa Emergency management -- South Africa Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Van Heerden, K. A. 2025. Understanding Human Behaviour in Wildland-Urban Interface Fires: A South African Case Study Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/d6984dbc-4e7d-4ca2-9c95-fe6ff97efc44 ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas, where natural land meets human development, have received increasing attention due to the increasing wildfire risks. These risks are intensified by climate change, changes in land use, and population growth, among others. Wildfires in WUI areas, referred to as WUI fires, increasingly threaten the safety of WUI communities and can lead to numerous injuries and fatalities. In an attempt to reduce the risk posed to these vulnerable communities, this project examines human behaviour (HB) during the 2017 Knysna fires, a well-documented event in the Knysna Municipality, South Africa (SA). It is classified as the most destructive South African WUI fire in terms of economic damage and structures lost. By analysing seventeen of the 144 testimonies from the ”Knysna Fire Stories” book, the study aims to identify how individuals behave in a WUI fire within a South African context. Braun and Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) was adopted to analyse the dataset, and it required continuous refinement of the developed interpretations of the data. The results show that three main HB themes were identified within the dataset: 1) Communication for Safety, 2) Making Sense of Threat, and 3) Protective Decision-making. Each of these themes comprises sub-themes, which provide further detail on each theme. Theme 1 highlighted the vital role of communication during the event. People used communication to obtain information, provide updates or warnings, support group decisionmaking, instruct others to evacuate or stay, and share personal plans and movements. Some of these communication methods provided reassurance, while others induced more stress. Theme 2 highlighted how individuals attempted to understand the WUI fire threat. Three behavioural approaches were observed: actively monitoring and seeking clarity, anticipating future scenarios, and misjudging the threat’s seriousness. It highlighted the influence of cognitive biases and the misinterpretation of prescribed burns on risk assessments. Interestingly, some women did not exhibit higher risk perception and dismissed the fire threat, contrary to most existing literature. Theme 3 highlighted that the safety of loved ones—including family, pets, livestock, with extended concern for colleagues or employees—was the highest protection priority. Individuals were willing to risk their lives to protect others, including strangers, as well as to defend their homes and possessions. Some also risked damage to their possessions to help others—including strangers—reach safety. The theme further demonstrated how personal priorities can override official instructions, offered insight into creative and adaptive problem-solving, addressed the misconception of panic, and showed that women could adopt defensive home protection measures when necessary. Finally, the results show that the behaviour of a South African community during a WUI fire event is broadly similar to patterns observed in other regions, such as the United States and Australia. The study also demonstrates that applying a RTA approach to study HB in WUI fires provides detailed insights into human behaviour. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2026-01-12T13:35:52Z 2026-01-12T13:35:52Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134850 Stellenbosch University xxv, 154 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Wildland-urban interface -- South Africa Wildfires -- South Africa Disasters -- Management -- South Africa Emergency management -- South Africa Van Heerden, Kara Annelize Understanding human behaviour in wildland-urban interface fires: a South African case study using reflexive thematic analysis |
| title | Understanding human behaviour in wildland-urban interface fires: a South African case study using reflexive thematic analysis |
| title_full | Understanding human behaviour in wildland-urban interface fires: a South African case study using reflexive thematic analysis |
| title_fullStr | Understanding human behaviour in wildland-urban interface fires: a South African case study using reflexive thematic analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding human behaviour in wildland-urban interface fires: a South African case study using reflexive thematic analysis |
| title_short | Understanding human behaviour in wildland-urban interface fires: a South African case study using reflexive thematic analysis |
| title_sort | understanding human behaviour in wildland urban interface fires a south african case study using reflexive thematic analysis |
| topic | Wildland-urban interface -- South Africa Wildfires -- South Africa Disasters -- Management -- South Africa Emergency management -- South Africa |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134850 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vanheerdenkaraannelize understandinghumanbehaviourinwildlandurbaninterfacefiresasouthafricancasestudyusingreflexivethematicanalysis |