Many wildland fire managers, concerned about public acceptance of local fuels management programs, want to better communicate with local residents about these programs. Research at diverse study sites shows wildland-urban interface (WUI) residents rely on common factors to decide whether or not to support particular fuels management approaches such as prescribed burning, mechanical fuels reduction, and defensible space. Our research leads us to several conclusions about wildland fuels management and communication programs. First, where fuels management approaches are established practices (and agency trust levels are not unusually low) acceptance among WUI residents tends to be high. Second, attitudes toward fuels management approaches are important predictors of acceptance. Third, low levels of trust in those responsible for wildland fuels management can significantly reduce acceptance of fuels management approaches. Fourth, beliefs about the likely outcome of an approach are associated with approval, but not consistently across sites or approaches. Finally, there are no easy shortcuts to predicting acceptance of fuel management.