Fuel treatment effectiveness at the landscape scale: A systematic review of simulation studies comparing treatment scenarios in North America
| Authors: | Jeffrey E. Ott, Francis F. Kilkenny, Terrie B. Jain |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Rocky Mountain Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-022-00163-2 |
| Source: | Fire Ecology. 19: 10. |
Abstract
The risk of destructive wildfire on fire-prone landscapes with excessive fuel buildup has prompted the use of fuel reduction treatments to protect valued resources from wildfire damage. The question of how to maximize the effectiveness of fuel reduction treatments at landscape scales is important because treating an entire landscape may be undesirable or unfeasible. We reviewed 86 simulation studies that examined landscape-scale fuel reduction treatment effectiveness for landscapes of the USA or Canada. Each of these studies tested effects of fuel reduction treatments on wildfire through comparisons of landscape scenarios differing by treatment design or other attributes. Results from these studies were summarized to assess what they reveal about factors determining fuel treatment effectiveness at landscape scales.