The Effectiveness of Fuels Management
This paper summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the manner and degree in which fuels management activities, such as fuelbreaks and prescribed fire, affect subsequent fire behavior, fire management costs, and resource damage. As fuel management techniques directly alter fuel characteristics such as fuel load and arrangement, they have a direct influence on fire hazard, and through the change in potential fire behavior are believed to reduce damage from wildfire. An extensive literature search and summary analysis, conducted for FRAP by the International Association of Wildland Fire, arrived at the following key points regarding the role of fuels management within fire and ecosystem management, and itemized the associated work that supports these findings.
1. Fuelbreaks and other spatially restricted fuel management zones vary in their effectiveness according to adjacent hazard, project construction (e.g., width), and maintenance. When used alone, fuelbreaks do not contain high intensity head fires, but may serve as control points for indirect attack and flank fire containment. They are also useful for perimeters for prescribed fire projects. Most findings indicate that the costs of fuelbreaks were higher than the value of averted damages. Like other fuel treatments, fuelbreaks require ongoing maintenance to keep fuel volumes low and remain effective.
Davis 1965; North et al. 1975; Omi 1977; Omi et al. 1981; Pyne 1984; Salazar and Gonzalez-Caban 1987; Van Wagtendonk 1996; Wilson 1988.
2. Prescribed fire changes fuel conditions, usually reducing hazard via reductions in available fuels. Numerous scientific studies and analytical models have been developed to predict changes in fuel characteristics associated with prescribed fire treatments. Prescribed fire behavior can be managed by firing technique and burning conditions.
Andrews and Bradshaw 1990; Biswell 1963, 1989, Biswell et al. 1973; Muraro 1968, Walstad et al. 1990, van Wagtendonk 1996
3. Prescribed fire reduces fire risk and hazard by reducing ignition potential and fire behavior. Many studies demonstrate lower incidence of fires in treated areas. Many anecdotal cases demonstrate reductions in fire behavior characteristics as a wildfire moves from areas of no recent fire to areas recently treated with prescribed fire. In forested systems, this change is often significant enough to cause a crown fire to frequently drop to the surface as they move into treated areas. Limited controlled experimentation and analytical modeling support these observations.
Billing 1981; Biswell 1963, Biswell et al. 1973, 1973; Buckley 1992; Clark 1990; Davis and Cooper 1963; Gaines et al. 1958; Helms 1979; Kallender 1963, 1969; Kallender et al. 1955; Knorr 1963; Rawson 1983; Salazar and Gonzalez-Caban 1987; Sapsis and Martin 1994; Saveland 1987; Stephenson et al. 1991; Truesdell 1969; Van Wagner 1968; Vihnanek and Ottmar 1994; Wagle and Eakle 1979; Weaver 1955; Whitson 1983; Wood 1982
4. The benefits of prescribed fire in terms of lower expected losses of resources and costs of fire suppression are variable and difficult to quantify. Areas of high risk, high hazard and high resource value are areas where prescribed fire will show the greatest benefit-cost ratio. Many studies show that prescribed fire reduces resource loss in forests and urban interface zones. Additionally, prescribed fire benefits ecosystem health and integrity in areas that are adapted to frequent, low-intensity fires. Consideration of all resource benefits, not just those associated with averted suppression costs, will shift benefit-cost ratios upward. Prescribed fire in conjunction with other measures (e.g. defensible space) will likely result in the greatest reduction in losses.
Barnard 1995; Barrett 1994; Biswell 1989; Deeming 1990; Cumming 1964; Descamps and Brain 1989; Foote, 1994; Greenlee 1995; Huff et al. 1995; Marcus 1981; Minton et al. 1992; Moore et al. 1955; Mutch 1994; Norris 1990; Pyne 1984; Sampson and Adams 1994; Walker 1995; Weatherspoon and Skinner 1990, 1995; Wood 1978.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact David Sapsis via e-mail at dave.sapsis@fire.ca.gov or by phone at (916) 445-5369
Last edited on October 23, 2006 by Lauren McNees