An examination of fuel particle heating during fire spread

Abstract

Recent high intensity wildfires and our demonstrated inability to control extreme fire behavior suggest a need for alternative approaches for preventing wildfire disasters. Current fire spread models are not sufficiently based on a basic understanding of fire spread processes to provide more effective management alternatives. An experimental and theoretical approach for improved understanding is necessary particularly for shrub and tree canopy fuels. Preliminary experiments of radiation heating resulted in coarse fuels (12-mm cross-section) heating to ignition while fine fuels (1-mm cross-section) did not. These results generally agree with other prior research results and indicate that radiation heating may not be sufficient for ignition. This study and our associated research will continue with the goal of developing a physical fuel particle ignition model as a basis for appropriate fire spread modeling assumptions.

Citation

Cohen, Jack D.; Finney, Mark A. 2010. An examination of fuel particle heating during fire spread. In: Viegas, D. X., ed. Proceedings of the VI International Conference on Forest Fire Research; 15-18 November 2010; Coimbra, Portugal. Coimbra, Portugal: University of Coimbra. 13 p.