Visitor attitudes toward wilderness fire management policy - 1971-84

Visitors to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, MT, were asked about their knowledge of fire effects and attitudes toward fire management in wilderness settings. In comparison to a similar 1971 study, visitors were more knowledgeable about fire effects and more supportive of fire management rather than fire suppression. About half the visitors felt that manager-ignited fires would be beneficial to wilderness, about 16 percent felt these fires would be detrimental, and about one-third were unsure.