Abstract
Evaluation of FARSITE Model in Southern California Scrublands
Track: Emergency Medical Services/Fire
Author
Wildfires occur more frequently than they used to in the wildlands of southern California. Altered fire regimes are a primary driver of loss and degradation of protected native ecosystems. Over the last few decades, 90% of the fires that impact the wildlands have been non-wind-driven, but these have burned only 10% of the habitat. However, 90% of the wildland acreage that has burned has done so during extreme wind conditions. In this study, we have evaluated the capabilities of FARSITE simulator programs in forecasting fire spread and behavior in southern California scrublands under Santa Ana Wind conditions using different fuel models and meteorological input data. We have also compared the predicted fire frequency using ignitions randomly chosen along roads, both with and without an ignition reduction strategy. Results will help land managers plan where to stop ignitions and increase habitat resilience across protected lands.
Yi-Chin Fang
Irvine Ranch Conservancy
4727 Portola Parkway
Irvine, California 92602
United States
Phone: 714-508-4719
E-mail: yfang@irconservancy.org
John Benoit
USFS Forest Fire Lab, Riverside CA
4955 Canyon Crest Drive
Riverside, California 92507
United States
Phone: (951) 680-1553
E-mail: jbenoit@fs.fed.us