Estimating cost of large-fire suppression for three Forest Service regions

Eric L. Smith; Gonz&aacute; lez-Cab&aacute; n Armando

doi:10.2737/PSW-RN-391

Treesearch

Estimating cost of large-fire suppression for three Forest Service regions

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Eric L. Smith, Gonz&aacute, lez-Cab&aacute, n Armando

Year:

1987

Type:

Research Note

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/PSW-RN-391

Source:

Res. Note PSW-RN-391. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 5 p

Download (PDF 1.24 MB)

Download (PDF 1.24 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/30724.pdf

Abstract

The annual costs attributable to large fire suppression in three Forest Service Regions (1970-1981) were estimated as a function of fire perimeters using linear regression. Costs calculated on a per chain of perimeterbasis were highest for the Pacific Northwest Region, next highest for the Northern Region, and lowest for the Intermountain Region. Recent costs in real terms for the Intermountain and Pacific Northwest Regions are lower when adjusted for fire sizes, indicating that cost calculations based on pre-1976 data may overestimate current costs.

Keywords

forest fires, economics, fire planning, fire suppression costs

Citation

Smith, Eric L.; González-Cabán Armando. 1987. Estimating cost of large-fire suppression for three Forest Service regions. Res. Note PSW-RN-391. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 5 p.