Landscape-scale changes in canopy fuels and potential fire behaviour following ponderosa pine restoration treatments
The authors evaluated the effects of a landscape-scale restoration treatment of thinning followed by prescribed fire on reducing crown fire hazard potential using FlamMap and NEXUS models with different fuel estimation approaches.
Prescribed fire treatments reduced the potential for active crown fire compared to the control plots or pretreatment levels. Increases in drought and wind conditions input into either model produced increases in active crown fire, however, the crowning and torching index was two and three times higher, respectively, in areas that had been treated than those with no treatment.
Climate and Fire Linkages
Prescribed fire treatments reduced the potential for active crown fire compared to the control plots or pretreatment levels. Increases in drought and wind conditions input into either model produced increases in active crown fire, however, the crowning and torching index was two and three times higher, respectively, in areas that had been treated than those with no treatment.
Fire and Ecosystem Effects Linkages
Prescribed fire treatments reduced the potential for active crown fire compared to the control plots or pretreatment levels. Increases in drought and wind conditions input into either model produced increases in active crown fire, however, the crowning and torching index was two and three times higher, respectively, in areas that had been treated than those with no treatment.