New tools revolutionize wildland fire modeling

Photo Credit

Brett Williams, USDA Forest Service

Joe O'Brien from SRS and Tim Kolnik from Oconee National Forest work on a QUIC-Fire simulation with the help of Sophie Bonner (LANL)

New wildland fire conditions are emerging in 21st century landscapes, forcing land managers to adapt their strategies. However, their modeling and monitoring tools are outdated. New tools are needed to guide unprecedented fire management issues and maximize pace and benefits of prescribed fire. Current models for prescribed fire planning lack crucial dynamics like fire-atmosphere interactions and the ability to accurately predict how complex ignition patterns affect fire behavior.

The Eastern Innovation Landscape Network (EILN) is working to address these challenges by implementing and evaluating new tools, developed with the Department of Defense's Wildland Fire Science Initiative. EILN leverages co-production between researchers and land managers to develop tools that meet manager needs while accounting for ecosystem changes, 3D vegetation structure, and fire-atmosphere interactions. This interdisciplinary approach, and the tools that come out of it, improve safety and help achieve fire management goals across many agencies and landscapes.