Real Wildfire Research Articles

Emergency Management: Building an O-D Ranking Model Using GIS Network Analysis

Enormous natural disasters due to climate change are frequently observed all around the world. Unexpected catastrophes become a huge threat for community residents. Activating an evacuation order in a large-scale incident such as a wildfire depends on how information can be acquired in real time. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide highly analyzed map products to decision makers. Under real wildfire circumstances, GIS map products are very effective materials that include collected and analyzed information and results visualized to enable interpretation of the situation in real time. The challenge of this study is the construction of an optimal route selection method using a GIS network for issuing evacuation-order decisions. The most effective evacuation routes were defined by networking analysis using 2007 San Diego wildfire datasets. The shortest evacuation routes were calculated between affected points and shelters and chosen automatically by an O-D (Origin - Destination) ranking model. Considerable roads and land features and other environmental factors when the closest facilities and routes are selected, selection criteria and approach methods can be suggested for future events. Using this model, accessible routes can be chosen any time and any place, even during an ongoing evacuation. Decision makers should therefore provide proper evacuation orders to rescue crews using this O-D ranking model.

Physical and thermal strain of firefighters according to the firefighting tactics used to suppress wildfires

The aim of this study was to analyse the physiological strain of firefighters, using heart rate (HR) and core temperature, during real wildfire suppression according to the type of attack performed (direct, indirect or mixed). Threeintensity zones were established according to the HR corresponding to the ventilatory threshold (VT) and respiratory compensation threshold (RCT): zone 1, <VT; zone 2 (Z2), between VT and RCT; zone 3 (Z3), >RCT. The exercise workload (training impulse (TRIMP)), the physiological strain index (PSI) and the cumulative heat strain index(CHSI) were calculated using the time spent in each zone, and the HR and core temperature, respectively. Significantly higher mean HR, time spent in Z2 and Z3 and TRIMP h−1 were found in direct and mixed versus indirect attacks. The highest PSI and CHSI were observed in the direct attack. In conclusion, exercise strain and combined thermal strain, but not core temperature during wildfire suppression, are related to the type of attack performed. Statement of relevance: Our findings demonstrated that wildfire firefighting is associated with high physiological demands, which vary significantly depending on the tactics chosen for performing the task. These results should be kept in mind when planning programmes to improve wildland firefighters' physical fitness, which will allow improvement in their performance.

Physiological work demands of Spanish wildland firefighters during wildfire suppression

The aim of this study was to analyze the physiological demands and thermal strain of wildland firefighters during real wildfire suppression. The response of core temperature and heart rate (HR) were analyzed in 200 wildland firefighters during wildfire suppression activities of different duration: <1 h (n = 52), 1-3 h (n = 70), 3-5 h (n = 44), and >5 h (n = 34). The exercise workload (TRIMP), the physiological strain index (PSI), and cumulative heat strain index (CHSI) were calculated using the time spent in different intensity zones, the HR, and core temperature. Mean HR was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in wildfires <1 h (133 ± 2 bpm) and 1-3 h (128 ± 1 bpm) versus 3-5 h (120 ± 3 bpm) and >5 h (116 ± 32 bpm). The time spent in higher intensity zones increased (P < 0.05) when wildfire duration increased. TRIMP accumulation increased with wildfire duration (54.9 ± 3.2, 167.4 ± 5.9, 296.0 ± 8.3, 511.7 ± 12.8 in <1, 1-3, 3-5, and >5 h, respectively). Neither core temperature (37.4 ± 0.1°C) nor PSI (4.5 ± 0.2) were influenced by wildfire duration. The CHSI increased (p < 0.05) in the following order: <1 h (104 ± 23), 1-3 h (1,396 ± 275), 3-5 h (4,586 ± 387), and >5 h (10,703 ± 710). The results demonstrate the high work strain sustained by Spanish wildland firefighters during wildfire suppression. Both workload and CHSI increased with the wildfires duration although the pace of work was faster in wildfires of a shorter duration.

Wireless Sensor Network Based Wildfire Hazard Prediction System Modeling

This paper presents Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) based Wildfire Hazard Prediction (WFHP) system. A systematic description of architectural details and requirements of WSN for WFHP applications is presented. A TrueTime model of WSN architecture is built in Matlab environment taking into account the requirements for in-network processing of WFHP for spatially explicit locations in forest layer. The model performance in terms of network latency, energy consumption, and scalability is analyzed through simulation. Verification of model sanity and performance are carried out taking real weather datasets and their corresponding wildfire hazard outputs as benchmarks. Simulation results show the e_ciency and applicability of the model to real wildfire hazard prediction system.

Forecasting and visualization of wildfires in a 3D geographical information system

This paper describes a wildfire forecasting application based on a 3D virtual environment and a fire simulation engine. A novel open-source framework is presented for the development of 3D graphics applications over large geographic areas, offering high performance 3D visualization and powerful interaction tools for the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) community. The application includes a remote module that allows simultaneous connections of several users for monitoring a real wildfire event. The system is able to make a realistic composition of what is really happening in the area of the wildfire with dynamic 3D objects and location of human and material resources in real time, providing a new perspective to analyze the wildfire information. The user is enabled to simulate and visualize the propagation of a fire on the terrain integrating at the same time spatial information on topography and vegetation types with weather and wind data. The application communicates with a remote web service that is in charge of the simulation task. The user may specify several parameters through a friendly interface before the application sends the information to the remote server responsible of carrying out the wildfire forecasting using the FARSITE simulation model. During the process, the server connects to different external resources to obtain up-to-date meteorological data. The client application implements a realistic 3D visualization of the fire evolution on the landscape. A Level Of Detail (LOD) strategy contributes to improve the performance of the visualization system.

A fuel treatment reduces fire severity and increases suppression efficiency in a mixed conifer forest

Fuel treatments are being implemented on public and private lands across the western United States. Although scientists and managers have an understanding of how fuel treatments can modify potential fire behaviour under modelled conditions, there is limited information on how treatments perform under real wildfire conditions in Sierran mixed conifer forests. The Bell Fire started on 22 September 2005 on the Plumas National Forest, CA. This fire burned upslope into a 1-year old, 158-ha mechanical fuel treatment on private land. Prior to coming into contact with the fuel treatment, the main fire ignited spot fires 400 feet (122 metres) into the treated area. Overall, this fuel treatment resulted in: (1) increased penetration of retardant to surface fuels; (2) improved visual contact between fire crews and the Incident Commander; (3) safe access to the main fire; and (4) quick suppression of spot fires. This treatment was relatively small and isolated from other fuel treatments but resulted in decreased severity, suppression costs and post-fire rehabilitation needs, leading to cost savings for local public and private land managers.