Defend or evacuate? Why residents delay this decision

Why do many residents of bushfire prone areas delay their decision to defend or evacuate in response to a bushfire until the day of a fire? Fire Note 112 outlines research that investigates this. The Fire Note examines several plausible reasons for such a delay stemming from decision avoidance research. Research findings are presented, as well as the opportunities and obstacles to overcoming the problems associated with decision delay.