Generating wind-driven firebrand showers characteristic of burning structures

Abstract

Firebrands are a significant source leading to structures ignited and lost in large outdoor fires, such as Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) fires, a large international problem, and urban fires, common in Japan. Sadly, hardly any information is available with regard to firebrand production from burning structures or actual large outdoor fires in general. To this end, an experimental database is being generated from firebrand generation from structure combustion. This paper will focus on how these detailed database results are being used to generate firebrand showers using a redesigned firebrand generator experimental apparatus installed in a full-scale wind tunnel, with the intent to experimentally simulate firebrand showers produced from structure combustion in large outdoor fires.