{"title":"Age and physical activity status of Australian volunteer firefighters: a cross-sectional study","authors":"D. Borg, Daniel Moore, Ian B. Stewart","doi":"10.1071/wf23146","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wf23146","url":null,"abstract":"Background There have been concerns of an aging Australian volunteer firefighter workforce. Aims To (1) determine the age distribution of Australian volunteer firefighters; (2) estimate the proportion of volunteer firefighters who met the Australian physical activity guidelines; (3) investigate the relationship between age and physical activity and exercise in volunteer firefighters. Methods An online survey was electronically distributed to Rural Fire Service volunteers in Queensland, Australia. The survey included demographic and physical activity questions. National guidelines were used to determine whether respondents met the Australian physical activity recommendations. The relationships between age and weekly physical activity and weekly exercise minutes were modelled using Bayesian methods. Key results The median age of responders (n = 480) was 54 years. Compared with Australian population data, volunteer firefighters were four times more likely to meet the physical activity guidelines and the exercise-only guidelines, but 1.4 times more likely to not meet the strength-based activity guidelines. Number of weekly physical activity minutes declined with age, by 61 min each decade. Conclusions Volunteers were more likely to meet the national physical activity and exercise-only guidelines, but less likely to meet the strength-based activity guidelines. Implications Volunteer firefighters could benefit from outreach programs that promote participation in strength-based training.","PeriodicalId":14464,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Wildland Fire","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140689212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Examining the effect of moisture thresholds on post-fire water-repellent soil: a large-scale modelling approach applied to the Upper Arroyo Seco watershed, California, USA","authors":"N. Pradhan, Ian Floyd","doi":"10.1071/wf22083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wf22083","url":null,"abstract":"Background Post-fire studies show that water repellency is limited by moisture conditions, but no existing study has examined this limiting effect at a watershed scale. Aims This study aimed to identify the soil moisture threshold value at which wildfire-induced hydrophobic condition transitions back to hydrophilic condition at a watershed scale. Methods The effect of moisture thresholds on post-fire water-repellent soil and hydrological variables including infiltration, runoff volume and peak flow are examined, using the post-wildfire hydrological model of the upper Arroyo Seco watershed, California, following the August 2009 Station Fire. Key results As the moisture threshold value increased from wilting point towards field capacity, the wildfire’s impact on runoff was greatest near the wilting point, and decreased sharply as the threshold increased. The percentage error in peak flow exponentially decreased as the moisture threshold increased and the corresponding Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency increased. Soil moisture threshold values >0.2 m3/m3 were significantly less sensitive to Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency, infiltration depth and percentage error in peak flow and runoff volume. Conclusion At the soil moisture threshold value of 0.25 m3/m3, transition from hydrophobic to hydrophilic conditions occurred. Identification of this watershed-scale soil moisture threshold value allows inclusion of the wildfire-induced hydrophobic transition back to hydrophilic condition in post-fire hydrological modelling of watersheds.","PeriodicalId":14464,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Wildland Fire","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140693078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Weidong Yan, Naian Liu, Hong Zhu, Haixiang Chen, Xiaodong Xie, Wei Gao, Zhihao Du
{"title":"Firebrand burning under wind: an experimental study","authors":"Weidong Yan, Naian Liu, Hong Zhu, Haixiang Chen, Xiaodong Xie, Wei Gao, Zhihao Du","doi":"10.1071/wf23151","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wf23151","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Background</strong><p>Spot fires play a significant role in the rapid spread of wildland and wildland–urban interface fires.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>This paper presents an experimental and modelling study on the flaming and smouldering burning of wood firebrands under forced convection.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>The firebrand burning experiments were conducted with different wind speeds and firebrand sizes.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>The burning rate of firebrands under forced convection is quantified by wood pyrolysis rate, char oxidation rate and a convective term. The firebrand projected area is correlated with firebrand diameter, char density, wind speed, and flaming or smouldering burning. A surface temperature model is derived in terms of condensed-phase energy conservation. We finally establish a simplified firebrand transport model based on the burning rate, projected area and surface temperature of firebrands.</p><strong> Conclusion</strong><p>The mass loss due to wood pyrolysis is much greater than that due to char oxidation in self-sustaining burning. The burning rate is proportional to <i>U</i><sup>1/2</sup>, where <i>U</i> is wind speed. The projected area for flaming firebrands decreases more rapidly than that for smouldering ones. The firebrand surface temperature is mainly determined by radiation.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Knowledge about firebrand burning characteristics is essential for predicting the flight distance and trajectory in firebrand transport.</p>","PeriodicalId":14464,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Wildland Fire","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140596746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
José Manuel Fernández-Guisuraga, Leonor Calvo, Carmen Quintano, Alfonso Fernández-Manso, Paulo M. Fernandes
{"title":"Linking crown fire likelihood with post-fire spectral variability in Mediterranean fire-prone ecosystems","authors":"José Manuel Fernández-Guisuraga, Leonor Calvo, Carmen Quintano, Alfonso Fernández-Manso, Paulo M. Fernandes","doi":"10.1071/wf23174","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wf23174","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Background</strong><p>Fire behaviour assessments of past wildfire events have major implications for anticipating post-fire ecosystem responses and fuel treatments to mitigate extreme fire behaviour of subsequent wildfires.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>This study evaluates for the first time the potential of remote sensing techniques to provide explicit estimates of fire type (surface fire, intermittent crown fire, and continuous crown fire) in Mediterranean ecosystems.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>Random Forest classification was used to assess the capability of spectral indices and multiple endmember spectral mixture analysis (MESMA) image fractions (char, photosynthetic vegetation, non-photosynthetic vegetation) retrieved from Sentinel-2 data to predict fire type across four large wildfires</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>MESMA fraction images procured more accurate fire type estimates in broadleaf and conifer forests than spectral indices, without remarkable confusion among fire types. High crown fire likelihood in conifer and broadleaf forests was linked to a post-fire MESMA char fractional cover of about 0.8, providing a direct physical interpretation.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>Intrinsic biophysical characteristics such as the fractional cover of char retrieved from sub-pixel techniques with physical basis are accurate to assess fire type given the direct physical interpretation.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>MESMA may be leveraged by land managers to determine fire type across large areas, but further validation with field data is advised.</p>","PeriodicalId":14464,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Wildland Fire","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140596629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P. Fox-Hughes, C. Bridge, N. Faggian, C. Jolly, S. Matthews, E. Ebert, H. Jacobs, B. Brown, J. Bally
{"title":"An evaluation of wildland fire simulators used operationally in Australia","authors":"P. Fox-Hughes, C. Bridge, N. Faggian, C. Jolly, S. Matthews, E. Ebert, H. Jacobs, B. Brown, J. Bally","doi":"10.1071/wf23028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wf23028","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Background</strong><p>Fire simulators are increasingly used to predict fire spread. Australian fire agencies have been concerned at not having an objective basis to choose simulators for this purpose.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>We evaluated wildland fire simulators currently used in Australia: Australis, Phoenix, Prometheus and Spark. The evaluation results are outlined here, together with the evaluation framework.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>Spatial metrics and visual aids were designed in consultation with simulator end-users to assess simulator performance. Simulations were compared against observations of fire progression data from 10 Australian historical fire case studies. For each case, baseline simulations were produced using as inputs fire ignition and fuel data together with gridded weather forecasts available at the time of the fire. Perturbed simulations supplemented baseline simulations to explore simulator sensitivity to input uncertainty.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>Each simulator showed strengths and weaknesses. Some simulators displayed greater sensitivity to different parameters under certain conditions.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>No simulator was clearly superior to others. The evaluation framework developed can facilitate future assessment of Australian fire simulators.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Collection of fire behaviour observations for routine simulator evaluation using this framework would benefit future simulator development.</p>","PeriodicalId":14464,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Wildland Fire","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140596625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A national accounting framework for fire and carbon dynamics in Australian savannas","authors":"Keryn I. Paul, Stephen H. Roxburgh","doi":"10.1071/wf23104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wf23104","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Background</strong><p>Tropical savannas represent a large proportion of the area burnt each year globally, with growing evidence that management to curtail fire frequency and intensity in some of these regions can contribute to mitigation of climate change. Approximately 25% of Australia’s fire-prone tropical savanna region is currently managed for carbon projects, contributing significantly to Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>To improve the accuracy of Australia’s national carbon accounting model (FullCAM) for reporting of fire emissions and sequestration of carbon in savanna ecosystems.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>Field data from Australian savannas were collated and used to calibrate FullCAM parameters for the prediction of living biomass, standing dead biomass and debris within seven broad vegetation types.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>Revised parameter sets and improved predictions of carbon stocks and fluxes across Australia’s savanna ecosystems in response to wildfire and planned fire were obtained.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>The FullCAM model was successfully calibrated to include fire impacts and post-fire recovery in savanna ecosystems.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>This study has expanded the capability of FullCAM to simulate both reduced emissions and increased sequestration of carbon in response to management of fire in tropical savanna regions of Australia, with implications for carbon accounting at national and project scales.</p>","PeriodicalId":14464,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Wildland Fire","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140596734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cátia Magro, Oriana C. Gonçalves, Leónia Nunes, Stephen H. Perry, Francisco Castro Rego, Pedro Vieira
{"title":"Remote sensing of volatile organic compounds release during prescribed fires in pine forests using open-path Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy","authors":"Cátia Magro, Oriana C. Gonçalves, Leónia Nunes, Stephen H. Perry, Francisco Castro Rego, Pedro Vieira","doi":"10.1071/wf23019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wf23019","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Background</strong><p>Extreme wildfires have increased in recent decades, yet the consequences of extreme fire behaviour are not fully comprehended. The study of prescribed burning provides opportunities to advance understanding of some overlooked processes in fire behaviour, such as the role of the release of volatile organic compounds (VOC).</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>The aim of this study was to assess VOC (α-pinene, β-pinene, and limonene), NH<sub>3</sub>, CO and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions during prescribed fires in pine barrens vegetation at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, USA.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>Measurements performed by open-path Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (OP-FTIR) quantified VOC concentrations and characterised emissions during four independent prescribed burns.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>Combustion products (e.g. CO<sub>2</sub>, CO, CH<sub>4</sub>) and VOC exhibited similar emission behaviour during thermal degradation, though VOC concentrations appeared to be independent of the type of biomass burned, unlike those of combustion products; <i>Pinus strobus</i> L. emitted two orders of magnitude higher than <i>Pinus rigida</i> Mill.; VOC and CO are statistically correlated (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.84).</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>These results confirmed that OP-FTIR is a feasible approach for gathering qualitative and quantitative information regarding VOC emission during prescribed fires.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Quantification of VOC concentrations during prescribed fires helps characterise its relationships with greenhouse gas emissions (e.g. CO<sub>2</sub> and CO) at different burning conditions (e.g. wind, biomass type), which could be incorporated into existing fire behaviour models to enhance their ability to better predict fire propagation.</p>","PeriodicalId":14464,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Wildland Fire","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140596750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B. J. Kenny, S. Matthews, S. Sauvage, S. Grootemaat, J. J. Hollis, P. Fox-Hughes
{"title":"Australian Fire Danger Rating System: implementing fire behaviour calculations to forecast fire danger in a research prototype †","authors":"B. J. Kenny, S. Matthews, S. Sauvage, S. Grootemaat, J. J. Hollis, P. Fox-Hughes","doi":"10.1071/wf23142","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wf23142","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Background</strong><p>The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) was implemented operationally throughout Australia in September 2022, providing calculation of fire danger forecasts based on peer-reviewed fire behaviour models. The system is modular and allows for ongoing incorporation of new scientific research and improved datasets.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>Prior to operational implementation of the AFDRS, a Research Prototype (AFDRS<sub>RP</sub>), described here, was built to test the input data and systems and evaluate the performance and potential outputs.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>Fire spread models were selected and aligned with fuel types in a process that captured bioregional variation in fuel characteristics. National spatial datasets were created to identify fuel types and fire history in alignment with existing spatial weather forecast layers.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>The AFDRS<sub>RP</sub> demonstrated improvements over the McArthur Forest and Grass Fire Danger systems due to its use of improved fire behaviour models, as well as more accurately reflecting the variation in fuels.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>The system design was robust and allowed for the incorporation of updates to the models and datasets prior to implementation of the AFDRS.</p>","PeriodicalId":14464,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Wildland Fire","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140596627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shaorun Lin, Tianhang Zhang, Xinyan Huang, Michael J. Gollner
{"title":"The initiation of smouldering peat fire by a glowing firebrand","authors":"Shaorun Lin, Tianhang Zhang, Xinyan Huang, Michael J. Gollner","doi":"10.1071/wf23116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wf23116","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Background</strong><p>Wildfires represent a significant threat to peatlands globally, but whether peat fires can be initiated by a lofted firebrand is still unknown.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>We investigated the ignition threshold of peat fires by a glowing firebrand through laboratory-scale experiments.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>The oven-dried weight (ODW) moisture content (MC) of peat samples varied from 5% ODW to 100% ODW, and external wind (<i>ν</i>) with velocities up to 1 m/s was provided in a wind tunnel.</p><strong> Key results and conclusions</strong><p>When MC < 35%, ignition is always achieved, regardless of wind velocity. However, if MC is between 35 and 85%, an external wind (increasing with peat moisture) is required to increase the reaction rate of the firebrand and thus heating to the peat sample. Further increasing the MC to be higher than 85%, no ignition could be achieved by a single laboratory firebrand. Finally, derived from the experimental results, a 90% ignition probability curve was produced by a logistic regression model.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>This work indicates the importance of maintaining a high moisture content of peat to prevent ignition by firebrands and helps us better understand the progression of large peat fires.</p>","PeriodicalId":14464,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Wildland Fire","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140596628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Modification of the Rothermel model parameters – the rate of surface fire spread of Pinus koraiensis needles under no-wind and various slope conditions","authors":"Daotong Geng, Guang Yang, Jibin Ning, Ang Li, Zhaoguo Li, Shangjiong Ma, Xinyu Wang, Hongzhou Yu","doi":"10.1071/wf23118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wf23118","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Background</strong><p>The prediction accuracy for the rate of surface fire spread varies in different regions; thus, increasing the prediction accuracy for local fuel types to reduce the destructive consequences of fire is critically needed.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>The objective of this study is to improve the Rothermel model’s accuracy in predicting the ROS for surface fuel burning in planted forests of <i>Pinus koraiensis</i> in the eastern mountains of north-east China.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>Fuel beds with various fuel loads and moisture content was constructed on a laboratory burning bed, 276 combustion experiments were performed under multiple slope conditions, and the ROS data from the combustion experiments were used to modify the related parameters in the Rothermel model.</p><strong> Results</strong><p>The surface fire spread rate in <i>Pinus koraiensis</i> plantations was directly predicted using the Rothermel model but had significant errors. The Rothermel model after modification predicted the following: MRE <i>=</i> 25.09%, MAE = 0.46 m min<sup>−1</sup>, and <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.80.</p><strong> Conclusion</strong><p>The prediction accuracy of the Rothermel model was greatly enhanced through parameter tuning based on in-lab combustion experiments</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>This study provides a method for the local application of the Rothermel model in China and helps with forest fire fighting and management in China.</p>","PeriodicalId":14464,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Wildland Fire","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140603327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}