Rates of initial spread of free-burning fires on the National Forests of California

Abstract

As early as 1914 Coert DuBois and his staff recognized that knowledge of the rates which fires spread was essential to sound fire control planning, strategy, and tactics, and therefore designed the fire report form so that such data might be accumulated. Although the individual fire report form has changed appreciably since that time, the supply of data has grown continuously. The need for summarizing this practical fire experience is still present. While more accurate knowledge of the factors influencing fire behavior and their effects is also required, and is being obtained, the information on fire reports is too valuable to remain unused, The data presented here are the results of recorded observations made on more than 9500 fires by Forest Service officers and guards.

Citation

Abell, C.A. 1940. Rates of initial spread of free-burning fires on the National Forests of California. Research Note PSW-RN-24. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, California Forest and Range Experiment Station. 27 p.