An experimental program was carried out in Tasmanian buttongrass moorlands to
develop fire behaviour prediction models for improving fire management. This
paper describes the results of the fuel moisture modelling section of this
project. A range of previously developed fuel moisture prediction models are
examined and three empirical dead fuel moisture prediction models are
developed. McArthur’s grassland fuel moisture model gave equally good
predictions as a linear regression model using humidity and dew-point
temperature. The regression model was preferred as a prediction model as it is
inherently more robust. A prediction model based on hazard sticks was found to
have strong seasonal effects which need further investigation before hazard
sticks can be used operationally.