Crown Fire Behavior Characteristics and Prediction in Conifer Forests: A State of Knowledge Synthesis

Project Description

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group glossary indicates that extreme fire behavior involves a level of fire behavior characteristics that ordinarily precludes methods of direct control action. One or more of the following is usually involved: high rate of spread, prolific crowning and/or spotting, presence of fire whirls, and strong convective column. Predictability is difficult because such fires often exercise some degree of influence on their environment and behave erratically, sometimes dangerously. The focus of this project was to synthesize available information on crown fire behavior related to conifer forests (e.g., the onset of crowning, type of crown fire and the associated spread rate and fireline intensity, convection column development, spotting, fire-induced vortices).

The synthesis is global in nature and is intended for multiple audiences ranging from the general public to college students to fire and land managers to university professors. It includes published peer-review articles, nonrefereed publications, survey of operational experiences from fire and land managers, and data and information, including video footage, obtained during wildfire monitoring by the USDA Forest Service’s Adaptive Management Services Enterprise Team and Fire Behavior Assessment Team.

Purpose and Scope

The focus of this project was to synthesize available information on crown fire behavior related to conifer forests. The synthesis is to be global in nature and is intended for multiple audiences ranging from the general public to college students to fire and land managers to university professors.

Project Deliverables

• Synthesis of publications on crown fire dynamics in conifer forests (Final Report) 
• Crown fire behavior characteristics and prediction in conifer forests: a state-of-knowledge synthesis (Fire Management Today)
• List of peer-reviewed publications pertaining to crown fire behavior in conifer forests

(See Resources tab for Project Deliverables)