A smoldering threat: Scientists utilize technology to combat wildfires

Photo Credit

USDA Forest Service photo by Michael Gallagher.

Scientists at the Silas Little Experimental Forest conduct field experiments in conjunction with laboratory experiments to improve our understanding of fire behavior.

The scene is all too familiar—fires dotting the natural landscape, thick columns of smoke rising into the sky, and concerned local residents wondering if their homes are safe. But this isn’t the western United States. This is the Northeast, a region historically less prone to devastating wildfires. The late summer and early autumn months of 2024 marked a dramatic shift, with severe drought conditions fueling wildfires throughout the region.

Researchers with the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station are at the forefront of understanding these changing fire patterns. Their work is critical, as climate change is expected to further exacerbate drought and fire conditions. The Silas Little Experimental Forest in New Jersey is at the epicenter of innovative fire research, being one of the few facilities conducting fire behavior experimentation.

“The widespread drought conditions we saw in the northeastern U.S. this past autumn were extraordinary,” says Michael Gallagher, a research ecologist with the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station. “The region surrounding New York City witnessed over 300 brush fires in two months.” This rate of fire ignitions is unprecedented in this area, going back to the beginning of record keeping in 1871.

Photo Credit

USDA Forest Service photo by Nate Sapp.

Research ecologist Michael Gallagher using a terrestrial laser scanner at the Silas Little Experimental Forest.

Amidst a warming climate, wildfire danger like that seen in 2024 in the region can only be expected to repeat itself in the near future. Fortunately, Northern Research Station is engaged in long-term research studies related to fire. This Forest Service Fire Unit is comprised of Gallagher and 9 other scientists and support staff located in the Northeast, who have partnered with academic and land-management partners for the past 15 years to conduct fire-line experiments at Silas Little.

One innovative tool that Forest Service researchers are employing at Silas Little Experimental Forest is terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), a ground-based type of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), to record detailed, three-dimensional data models of vegetation structures as they interact with fire. By analyzing these models, scientists can identify areas of high fire risk and develop targeted fuel reduction strategies.

"Terrestrial laser scanning is revolutionizing the way we monitor forests," says Gallagher. "It enables us to quantify fuel hazards, simulate fire behavior, and evaluate the impact of prescribed fires with increased accuracy." With this data, land managers might be able to better identify areas prone to high fire danger and take steps to mitigate the risks before the next drought and wildfires even begin.

Photo Credit

USDA Forest Service photo by Nate Sapp.

A pitch pine-loblolly pine plantation at the Silas Little Experimental Forest.

In addition to understanding potential fire risks, Gallagher and fellow researchers are striving to learn more about fire behavior, specifically in the form of firebrands. These tiny burning embers are emitted by wildfires and can be carried by wind for miles, igniting spot fires that can easily spread into larger blazes and threaten communities and infrastructure.

“Firebrands pose a major challenge to fire management,” explains Gallagher. “As we recently saw in the northeast, dry, drought conditions with high winds meant that fires easily jump from a known blaze to ignite new ones, making containment and suppression efforts more difficult.”

To address this danger, researchers are investigating the complex factors that contribute to firebrand spread, including fuel characteristics, weather conditions, and fire behavior. Once these factors are better understood, scientists can develop predictive models that will aid firefighters in anticipating firebrand behavior so that steps can be taken to mitigate their impact.

“These fires that the Northeast just experienced are not a one-off event—they will have ripple effects,” says Gallagher. “Forest Service and partner researchers at Silas Little are using the best tools at our disposal to better understand fire behavior. Working together, we really can roll the ball forward scientifically to make the world safer for folks.”