Wildland Fire Science—Supporting wildland fire and land management

Generalised statements about the state of fire science are often used to provide a simplified context for new work. This paper explores the validity of five frequently repeated statements regarding empirical and physical models for predicting wildland fire behaviour. For empirical models, these include statements that they: (1) work well over the range of their original data; and (2) are not appropriate for and should not be applied to conditions outside the range of the original data. For physical models, common statements include that they: (3) provide insight into the mechanisms that drive wildland fire spread and other aspects of fire behaviour; (4) give a better understanding of how fuel treatments modify fire behaviour; and (5) can be used to derive simplified models to predict fire behaviour operationally. The first statement was judged to be true only under certain conditions, whereas the second was shown not to be necessarily correct if valid data and appropriate modelling forms are used. Statements three through five, although theoretically valid, were considered not to be true given the current state of knowledge regarding fundamental wildland fire processes.

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Wildland Fire Science for Management: Federal Fire Manager Information Needs, Sources, and Uses

Western Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/wjaf/26.3.126 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 126-132 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Clare M. Ryan ◽

Lee K. Cerveny

Keyword(s):

Information Needs ◽

Information Sources ◽

Wildland Fire ◽

Relevant Information ◽

Service Research ◽

Fire Science ◽

Information Accessibility ◽

Us Forest Service ◽

Types Of Information ◽

University Scientists

Abstract A Web-based survey of wildland fire managers in federal agencies in the western United States explored fire science information needs and sources, why particular sources are used, and barriers to obtaining and using information. The fire managers we surveyed rely heavily on internal agency information sources (colleagues, technical experts, and resource advisors) and are more likely to face barriers in their ability to access and use relevant information (lack of time, funding, and personnel) than problems with the quality or availability of data. Information accessibility and applicability are important to managers when deciding which information sources to use. Managers frequently access research provided by US Forest Service Research and Development specialists and university scientists through various publications, the Internet, and direct communication with scientists. Understanding the types of information fire managers need, the sources they access for information, and the barriers they face in obtaining and using information may lead to improved fire science and its dissemination, as well as more effective and efficient fire management.

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Advances in understanding and managing wildland fire: communicating wildland fire research to land-management practitioners

International Journal of Wildland Fire ◽

10.1071/wfv22n1_fo ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. i ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robert A. Mickler ◽

John H. Cissel ◽

John Laurence

Keyword(s):

Land Management ◽

Wildland Fire ◽

Fire Research

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A Review of Community Smoke Exposure from Wildfire Compared to Prescribed Fire in the United States

10.20944/preprints201803.0262.v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Kathleen M. Navarro ◽

Don Schweizer ◽

John R. Balmes ◽

Ricardo Cisneros

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Land Management ◽

Prescribed Fire ◽

Wildland Fire ◽

The United States ◽

Smoke Exposure ◽

Management Tool ◽

Wildfire Smoke ◽

Scientific Papers

Prescribed fire, intentionally ignited low-intensity fires, and managed wildfires, wildfires that are allowed to burn for land management benefit, could be used as a land management tool to create forests that are resilient to wildland fire. This could lead to fewer large catastrophic wildfires in the future. However, we must consider the public health impacts of the smoke that is emitted from wildland and prescribed fire. The objective of this synthesis is to examine the differences in ambient community-level exposures to particulate matter (PM2.5) from smoke in the United States from two smoke exposure scenarios – wildfire fire and prescribed fire. A systematic search was conducted to identify scientific papers to be included in this review. Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed for scientific papers, and Google Scholar were used to identify any grey literature or reports to be included in this review. Sixteen studies that examined particulate matter exposure from smoke were identified for this synthesis – nine wildland fire studies and seven prescribed fire studies. PM2.5 concentrations from wildfire smoke were found to be significantly lower than reported PM2.5 concentrations from prescribed fire smoke. Wildfire studies focused on assessing air quality impacts to communities that were nearby fires and urban centers that were far from wildfires. However, the prescribed fire studies used air monitoring methods that focused on characterizing exposures and emissions directly from and next to the burns. This review highlights a need for a better understanding of wildfire smoke impact over the landscape. It is essential for properly assessing population exposure to smoke from different fire types.

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Third U.S. Geological Survey Wildland Fire-Science Workshop : Denver, Colorado, November 12-15, 2002

Scientific Investigations Report ◽

10.3133/sir20045005 ◽

2004 ◽

Author(s):

Russell K. Livingston

Keyword(s):

Wildland Fire ◽

Geological Survey ◽

Fire Science

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U.S. Geological Survey wildland fire science strategic plan, 2021–26

Circular ◽

10.3133/cir1471 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Paul F. Steblein ◽

Rachel A. Loehman ◽

Mark P. Miller ◽

Joseph R. Holomuzki ◽

Suzanna C. Soileau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wildland Fire ◽

Strategic Plan ◽

Geological Survey ◽

Fire Science

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Fifty years of wildland fire science in Canada

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2020-0314 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sean Coogan ◽

Lori D Daniels ◽

Dennis Boychuk ◽

Philip J. Burton ◽

Mike Flannigan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Canadian Journal ◽

Fire Ecology ◽

Fire Management ◽

Wildland Fire ◽

Fire Severity ◽

50Th Anniversary ◽

Forest Research ◽

Fire Science ◽

Wildland Fire Management

We celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Journal of Forest Research by reflecting on the considerable progress accomplished in select areas of Canadian wildfire science over the past half century. Specifically, we discuss key developments and contributions in the creation of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System; the relationships between wildland fire and weather, climate, and climate change; fire ecology; operational decision support; and wildland fire management. We also discuss the evolution of wildland fire management in Banff National Park as a case study. We conclude by discussing some possible directions in future Canadian wildland fire research including the further evaluation of fire severity measurements and effects; the efficacy of fuel management treatments; climate change effects and mitigation; further refinement of models pertaining to fire risk analysis, fire behaviour, and fire weather; and the integration of forest management and ecological restoration with wildfire risk reduction. Throughout the paper we reference many contributions published in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research, which has been at the forefront of international wildland fire science.

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