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Learning from fuel-break behaviour during the 2003 large fires in South Eastern France
Forest Ecology and Management 234S (2006) S227
Abstract
Learning from fuel-break behaviour during the 2003 large fires in South Eastern France Eric Rigolot a, Daniel Alexandrian b a
INRA, Unite´ de Recherches Forestie`res Me´diterrane´ennes, Equipe Pre´vention des Incendies de Foreˆt, 20 Avenue A. Vivaldi, 84000 Avignon, France b Agence MTDA, 298 Avenue du Club hippique, 13090 Aix-en-Provence, France
Keywords: Fuel-break; Large fire; Post fire analysis; Wildfire behaviour; Case study
2003 was one of the worst fire season of the past decades in Europe and namely in the French Mediterranean Region. Among the 377 fires recorded in the Var department in 2003, five large fires representing 93% of the total area burnt, were carefully analysed. These large fires had a deep impact both locally and nationally. These case study analysis involved more than 40 scientists and professionals including forest managers and fire-fighters. The objectives of these case study analysis were to examined how these large fires behaved, what were the effects of fuelbreaks on wildfire spreading and how the fuel-breaks were used by fire-fighters. Nineteen fuel-breaks have been selected for analysis among the diversity of possible situations: fuel-break type, head versus flank fire front, presence versus absence of fighting actions, . . .. Our results showed extreme wildfire behaviours in the French context with fire intensity and fire rate of spread never recorded before. For instance, the Vidauban I fire (17th July 2003—6744 ha), always accelerated from 1.7 to 5.5 km/h, under moderate wind conditions (30–35 km/h), but under very
DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.254 E-mail addresses: [email protected] (E. Rigolot), [email protected] (D. Alexandrian).
low air moisture content (18%). Very numerous spotting fires were observed with spotting distances up to 500 m, even 800 m. Concerning forest infrastructures, our results showed that on the same wildfire, eight head fuel-breaks were crossed, three flank fuel-breaks had contained the fire, one wildland urban interface was damaged. Moreover, the frequency and initial rate of spread of spotting fires, increased dramatically difficulties of the fighting operations, and the very high global rate of spread of wildfire turned difficult the use of the fuel-breaks by fire fighting forces. The conclusions of this work enabled to formulate 45 recommendations concerning several domains like (i) mitigation guidelines at the wildland urban interface, (ii) quality approach for major fuel-break design and maintenance, (iii) special attention to weak points in the fuel-break network and finally (iv) great need of further research on the spotting fire problem. The findings of this study inform public decisions on the fuel-break design and management and how individuals, communities and organizations can prepare for wildfire events.
Abstract
Learning from fuel-break behaviour during the 2003 large fires in South Eastern France Eric Rigolot a, Daniel Alexandrian b a
INRA, Unite´ de Recherches Forestie`res Me´diterrane´ennes, Equipe Pre´vention des Incendies de Foreˆt, 20 Avenue A. Vivaldi, 84000 Avignon, France b Agence MTDA, 298 Avenue du Club hippique, 13090 Aix-en-Provence, France
Keywords: Fuel-break; Large fire; Post fire analysis; Wildfire behaviour; Case study
2003 was one of the worst fire season of the past decades in Europe and namely in the French Mediterranean Region. Among the 377 fires recorded in the Var department in 2003, five large fires representing 93% of the total area burnt, were carefully analysed. These large fires had a deep impact both locally and nationally. These case study analysis involved more than 40 scientists and professionals including forest managers and fire-fighters. The objectives of these case study analysis were to examined how these large fires behaved, what were the effects of fuelbreaks on wildfire spreading and how the fuel-breaks were used by fire-fighters. Nineteen fuel-breaks have been selected for analysis among the diversity of possible situations: fuel-break type, head versus flank fire front, presence versus absence of fighting actions, . . .. Our results showed extreme wildfire behaviours in the French context with fire intensity and fire rate of spread never recorded before. For instance, the Vidauban I fire (17th July 2003—6744 ha), always accelerated from 1.7 to 5.5 km/h, under moderate wind conditions (30–35 km/h), but under very
DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.254 E-mail addresses: [email protected] (E. Rigolot), [email protected] (D. Alexandrian).
low air moisture content (18%). Very numerous spotting fires were observed with spotting distances up to 500 m, even 800 m. Concerning forest infrastructures, our results showed that on the same wildfire, eight head fuel-breaks were crossed, three flank fuel-breaks had contained the fire, one wildland urban interface was damaged. Moreover, the frequency and initial rate of spread of spotting fires, increased dramatically difficulties of the fighting operations, and the very high global rate of spread of wildfire turned difficult the use of the fuel-breaks by fire fighting forces. The conclusions of this work enabled to formulate 45 recommendations concerning several domains like (i) mitigation guidelines at the wildland urban interface, (ii) quality approach for major fuel-break design and maintenance, (iii) special attention to weak points in the fuel-break network and finally (iv) great need of further research on the spotting fire problem. The findings of this study inform public decisions on the fuel-break design and management and how individuals, communities and organizations can prepare for wildfire events.