Understanding the types and distribution of fuels is crucial for effective wildfire management. However, fuel typing and mapping can be challenging due to the diversity and heterogeneity of fuel conditions. Despite widespread usage of Fire Behaviour Prediction System fuel type maps in British Columbia (BC), the accuracy and applicability of these maps has not been formally assessed.
In this webinar, Dr. Jen Baron discusses the degree of agreement between on-site assessments and fuel type maps in interior BC. She shares the findings of her recent study (link below) as well as potential pathways for improving future fuel characterizations.
Watch to learn more about:
- The importance of accurate fuel mapping for wildfire management
- The challenges of fuel typing and mapping in British Columbia
- The findings of the study on the applicability of fuel type maps
- Potential pathways for improving future fuel characterizations
More from Canada Wildfire: Check out our free upcoming webinars - www.canadawildfire.org/webinarsandcourses
0:00 Welcome and Introduction with Karen Blouin (Canada Wildfire)
2:03 Introduction with Dr. Jen Baron
3:25 Importance of fuel characterization
5:20 Use of fuel description systems and fuel types
6:58 Fuel attributes in fuel systems - similar attributes used in different ways
9:20 The Fire Behaviour Prediction System - fuel association approach to describe 16 fuel types
12:44 Assessing BC fuel type maps
16:13 Characterizing fuels: applicability
30:22 Sources of mismatches
36:38 Implications for wildfire research
37:35 Implications for wildfire operations
39:17 A way forward - Improving fuel characterizations
44:06 A way forward - Fuels and fire behaviour research
46:47 Q&A
48:18 Question - Did you compare or conduct with US fuel types?
50:24 Question - Was the lidar work all aerial, or some terrestrial?
54:14 Question - Have you noticed an appetite for this analysis in other provinces?
56:18 Question - Any thoughts on blended fuel types?
58:34 Question - Do you think that Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) zones and subzones are experiencing similar issues?
1:00:40 Question - Do you think that with traditional cultural land stewardship, we could undertake restoration towards a C7?
1:03:55 Question/comment - Interesting to hear that there was no directly applicable FBP fuel type for 58% of plots
Read more: fireecology.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s42408-024-00249-z
Recorded live on November 8, 2024, as a free Canada Wildfire webinar, "Fuel types misrepresent forest structure and composition in interior British Columbia: a way forward."
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