Network Resilience in Wildfire Response: Coordinated Action for Effective Outcomes

• In Event: Preparation to Create Resilience

Abstract

As disasters become more frequent and severe, emergency response increasingly relies on interorganizational networks for policy design and implementation. These networks allow for the mobilization of diverse capabilities, but their effectiveness depends not only on their structure, but also on their network resilience: the capacity to anticipate risks, absorb shocks, and adapt while maintaining critical functions. In the context of disaster management, network resilience is crucial for enabling coordinated action. Structural features such as network density, combined with leadership dynamics, shape how networks perform under stress. This study emphasizes the interaction between network structure and network leadership in producing effective disaster response and recovery.

This research examines how network governance contributes to network resilience by analyzing the 2025 Los Angeles Wildfire response. Los Angeles Wildfire presents a uniquely decentralized governance environment, shaped by historical distrust of centralized authority and a long-standing tradition of local autonomy. This has produced a complex "web of governance" composed of overlapping jurisdictions and independently operating agencies. While such a system enhances localized responsiveness, it also generates significant coordination challenges. These characteristics make Los Angeles Wildfire an ideal setting to investigate how networks operate during dynamic environments of crises.

Accordingly, this study explores how interorganizational networks operate under pressure and how their structural and leadership configurations influence response outcomes. Specifically, it examines (1) how network structure affects the effectiveness of emergency response, (2) the role of collaborative leadership in shaping coordination within decentralized systems, and (3) how the interaction between structure and leadership influences network resilience. To address these questions, the study employs a mixed-method design that integrates qualitative content analysis with social network analysis and expert interviews for additional insight. First, a conceptual framework of network resilience is applied to empirical data from two wildfire responses—the Eaton Fire and the Palisade Fire. Second, it identifies actionable governance strategies to enhance resilience in emergency response networks.

This research contributes to the emerging but underdeveloped field of network resilience by providing both theoretical and empirical insights into its key drivers. It advances our understanding of network governance in disaster contexts and emphasizes the joint influence of leadership and structure on coordination outcomes. These findings inform not only theory but also practical strategies and policies for designing adaptive, collaborative, and resilient systems.

Author

• Hanvit Kim, University of Central Florida
  Presenting Author