Predicting forest fire danger using fuel characteristics in Berbak Sembilang National Park

Abstract

Analyzing the fuel characteristics of a forest is essential when creating fire danger rating system (FDRS) and understanding how forest fires behave. In this study, the researchers predicted the intensity of forest fires by examining the amount of fuel present Berbak and Sembilang Natinal Park between November 2020 and December 2021. The fuel load measurement was carried out on surface fuel in the burned peatland area by modifying the line-intersect method (triangular plot - Van Wanger 1982) and the method developed during the Kalimantan Forest Climate Project (KFCP). We assessed the possibility of forest fires occurring, based on the fuel conditions. Variations were found in the fuel quantity and composition on the forest’s surface layer across different regions. Consequently, the intensity and type of forest fires changed accordingly. The Berbak Sembilang National Park area proved more intense surface fires. These results underscore the importance of understanding regional fuel characteristics and analyzing the predicted intensity and type of forest fires to take timely preventive measures against early fire occurrences.