Social science fire research including economics, sociology, geography, and anthropology has always been a part of Forest Service Research and Development but has received increased attention since the advent of the National Fire Plan in 2000. To guide fire research, the Forest Service developed the Wildland Fire and Fuels Research and Development Strategic Plan (see USDA FS 2006). The strategic plan provides broad direction to "conduct research on social and economic dimensions of fire and fuels management" and identifies three broad social science research needs. The first deals with "public interactions with fire and fuels management" and includes issues such as public trust, public perceptions, incentives, cooperation and planning, and communication.