Register      Login
International Journal of Wildland Fire International Journal of Wildland Fire Society
Journal of the International Association of Wildland Fire
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Fire spread in chaparral – a comparison of laboratory data and model predictions in burning live fuels

David R. Weise A F , Eunmo Koo B , Xiangyang Zhou C , Shankar Mahalingam D , Frédéric Morandini E and Jacques-Henri Balbi E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Fire and Fuels Program, Riverside, CA 92506-6071, USA.

B Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA.

C FM Global, Inc., 1175 Boston-Providence Turnpike, PO Box 9102, Norwood, MA 02062-5019, USA.

D Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville, AL 35899, USA.

E Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) 6134 – Sciences Pour l’Environnement (SPE), University of Corsica, BP 52, F-20250 Corte, France.

F Corresponding author. Email: dweise@fs.fed.us

International Journal of Wildland Fire 25(9) 980-994 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF15177
Submitted: 3 October 2015  Accepted: 20 April 2016   Published: 16 June 2016

Abstract

Fire behaviour data from 240 laboratory fires in high-density live chaparral fuel beds were compared with model predictions. Logistic regression was used to develop a model to predict fire spread success in the fuel beds and linear regression was used to predict rate of spread. Predictions from the Rothermel equation and three proposed changes as well as two physically based models were compared with observed spread rates of spread. Flame length–fireline intensity relationships were compared with flame length data. Wind was the most important variable related to spread success. Air temperature, live fuel moisture content, slope angle and fuel bed bulk density were significantly related to spread rate. A flame length–fireline intensity model for Galician shrub fuels was similar to the chaparral data. The Rothermel model failed to predict fire spread in nearly all of the fires that spread using default values. Increasing the moisture of extinction marginally improved its performance. Modifications proposed by Cohen, Wilson and Catchpole also improved predictions. The models successfully predicted fire spread 49 to 69% of the time. Only the physical model predictions fell within a factor of two of actual rates. Mean bias of most models was close to zero. Physically based models generally performed better than empirical models and are recommended for further study.

Additional keywords: Adenostoma fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Ceanothus crassifolius, Quercus berberidifolia.


References

Abell CA (1940) Rates of initial spread of free-burning fires on the national forests of California. US Forest Service, California Forest and Range Experiment Station, Research Note 24. Available at http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/48459 [Verified 23 May 2016]

Albini FA (1967) A physical model for fire spread in brush. Symposium (International) on Combustion 11, 553–560.
A physical model for fire spread in brush.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Albini FA (1976a) Computer-based models of wildland fire behavior: a user’s manual. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Available at https://www.frames.gov/documents/behaveplus/publications/Albini_1976_FIREMOD.pdf [Verified 23 May 2016]

Albini FA (1976b) Estimating wildfire behavior and effects. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, General Technical Report INT-30. Available at http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_int/int_gtr030.pdf [Verified 23 May 2016]

Albini F (1981) A model for the wind-blown flame from a line fire. Combustion and Flame 43, 155–174.
A model for the wind-blown flame from a line fire.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL38XlsVOrtg%3D%3D&md5=d71d677769fc229612a00de2cd55f889CAS |

Albini FA, Anderson EB (1982) Predicting fire behavior in U.S. Mediterranean ecosystems. In ‘Proceedings of the symposium on dynamics and management of Mediterranean-type ecosystems’, 22–26 June 1981, San Diego, CA. (Eds CE Conrad, WC Oechel) USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, General Technical Report PSW-58, pp. 483–489. Available at http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr058/psw_gtr058_6b_albini.pdf [Verified 23 May 2016].

Albini FA, Baughman RG (1979) Estimating wind speeds for predicting wildland fire behavior. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Research Paper INT-221. Available at http://www.frames.gov/documents/behaveplus/publications/Albini_and_Baughman_1979_INT-RP-221.pdf [Verified 23 May 2016]

Alexander ME, Cruz MG (2012) Interdependencies between flame length and fireline intensity in predicting crown fire initiation and crown scorch height. International Journal of Wildland Fire 21, 95–113.
Interdependencies between flame length and fireline intensity in predicting crown fire initiation and crown scorch height.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Anderson  HERothermel  RC (1965 ) Influence of moisture and wind upon the characteristics of free-burning fires. Symposium (International) on Combustion 10 , 1009–101910.1016/S0082-0784(65)80243-0

Anderson WR, Catchpole EA, Butler BW (2010) Convective heat transfer in fire spread through fine fuel beds. International Journal of Wildland Fire 19, 284–298.
Convective heat transfer in fire spread through fine fuel beds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Anderson WR, Cruz MG, Fernandes PM, McCaw L, Vega JA, Bradstock RA, Fogarty L, Gould J, McCarthy G, Marsden-Smedley JB, Matthews S, Mattingley G, Pearce HG, Van Wilgen BW (2015) A generic, empirical-based model for predicting rate of fire spread in shrublands. International Journal of Wildland Fire 24, 443–460.
A generic, empirical-based model for predicting rate of fire spread in shrublands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bacciu VM (2009) Maquis fuel model development to support spatially explicit fire modeling applications. PhD thesis, University of Sassari, Italy. Available at http://eprints.uniss.it/1090/ [Verified 23 May 2016].

Balbi J-H, Rossi J-L, Marcelli T, Santoni P-A (2007) A 3D physical real-time model of surface fires across fuel beds. Combustion Science and Technology 179, 2511–2537.
A 3D physical real-time model of surface fires across fuel beds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXht1ShtbrI&md5=559e34b3bd8c8bd1954f42bd35fddea9CAS |

Balbi J-H, Morandini F, Silvani X, Filippi JB, Rinieri F (2009) A physical model for wildland fires. Combustion and Flame 156, 2217–2230.
A physical model for wildland fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhtlOksbnL&md5=6220e60a8d7ade6ed4fb5ba8d5778a8bCAS |

Bianchi LO, Defossé GE (2015) Live fuel moisture content and leaf ignition of forest species in Andean Patagonia, Argentina. International Journal of Wildland Fire 24, 340–348.
Live fuel moisture content and leaf ignition of forest species in Andean Patagonia, Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bilbao R, Mastral JF, Aldea ME, Ceamanos J, Betrán M, Lana JA (2001) Experimental and theoretical study of the ignition and smoldering of wood including convective effects. Combustion and Flame 126, 1363–1372.
Experimental and theoretical study of the ignition and smoldering of wood including convective effects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXmt1Gksr4%3D&md5=d1ef7f84927cc02f42c7e75cf75f3798CAS |

Bilgili E, Saglam B (2003) Fire behavior in maquis fuels in Turkey. Forest Ecology and Management 184, 201–207.
Fire behavior in maquis fuels in Turkey.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Blackmore M, Vitousek PM (2000) Cattle grazing, forest loss, and fuel loading in a dry forest ecosystem at Pu’u Wa’aWa’a Ranch, Hawai’i. Biotropica 32, 625–632.
Cattle grazing, forest loss, and fuel loading in a dry forest ecosystem at Pu’u Wa’aWa’a Ranch, Hawai’i.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Breiman L, Friedman JH, Olshen RA, Stone CJ (1998) ‘Classification and regression trees.’ (Chapman & Hall: Boca Raton, FL)

Brown JK (1982) Fuel and fire behavior prediction in big sagebrush. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Research Paper INT-290. Available at http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_int/int_rp290.pdf [Verified 23 May 2016]

Burgan RE (1987) Concepts and interpreted examples in advanced fuel modeling. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, General Technical Report INT-238. Available athttp://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_int/int_gtr238.pdf [Verified 23 May 2016]

Butler B, Teske C, Jimenez D, O’Brien J, Sopko P, Wold C, Vosburgh M, Hornsby B, Loudermilk E (2016) Observations of energy transport and rate of spreads from low-intensity fires in longleaf pine habitat – RxCADRE 2012. International Journal of Wildland Fire 25, 76–89.
Observations of energy transport and rate of spreads from low-intensity fires in longleaf pine habitat – RxCADRE 2012.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Byram GM (1959) Combustion of forest fuels. In ‘Forest fire: control and use’. (Ed. KP Davis) pp. 61–89. (McGraw-Hill: New York)

Carslaw DC (2015) The openair manual – open-source tools for analysing air pollution data. Manual for version 1.1–4. Available at http://www.openair-project.org/PDF/OpenAir_Manual.pdf [Verified 23 May 2016]

Carslaw DC, Ropkins K (2012) openair – an R package for air quality data analysis. Environmental Modelling & Software 27–28, 52–61.
openair – an R package for air quality data analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Catchpole T, de Mestre N (1986) Physical models for a spreading line fire. Australian Forestry 49, 102–111.
Physical models for a spreading line fire.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Catchpole WR, Bradstock RA, Choate J, Fogarty LG, Gellie N, McCarthy G, McCaw WL, Marsden-Smedley JB, Pearce G (1998a) Cooperative development of equations for heathland fire behaviour. In ‘Proceedings of the 3rd international conference on forest fire research and 14th conference on fire and forest meteorology’, Coimbra, Portugal. (Ed. DX Viegas) pp. 631–645. (University of Coimbra: Coimbra, Portugal)

Catchpole WR, Catchpole EA, Butler BW, Rothermel RC, Morris GA, Latham DJ (1998) Rate of spread of free-burning fires in woody fuels in a wind tunnel. Combustion Science and Technology 131, 1–37.
Rate of spread of free-burning fires in woody fuels in a wind tunnel.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXjs1Ggsbo%3D&md5=6ed0cac850b344e02c6736fdfbce5013CAS |

Chandler CC, Storey TG, Tangren CD (1963) Prediction of fire spread following nuclear explosions. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Research Paper PSW-RP-5. Available at http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/28743 [Verified 23 May 2016]

Cheney NP, Gould JS, McCaw WL, Anderson WR (2012) Predicting fire behaviour in dry eucalypt forest in southern Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 280, 120–131.
Predicting fire behaviour in dry eucalypt forest in southern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cheyette D, Rupp TS, Rodman S (2008) Developing fire behavior fuel models for the wildland–urban interface in Anchorage, Alaska. Western Journal of Applied Forestry 23, 149–155.

Cohen JD (1986a) Estimating fire behavior with FIRECAST: user’s manual. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, General Technical Report PSW-90. Available at http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr090/psw_gtr090.pdf [Verified 23 May 2016]

Cohen JD (1986b) FIRECAST Fortran code. USDA Forest Service, PSW Research Station. (Riverside, CA) In ‘Marginal fire spread in live fuel beds – horizontal fuels’. (DRWeise, X Zhou, S Mahalingam, J Chong) (2015) USDA Forest Service Research Data Archive, archived data and computer code RDS-2015–0007. (Fort Collins, CO)10.2737/RDS-2015-0007

Cohen JD (2015) Fuel particle heat exchange during wildland fire spread. PhD thesis, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID.

Cohen J, Bradshaw B (1986) Fire behavior modeling – a decision tool. In ‘Proceedings: prescribed burning in the Midwest: state of the art’, 3–6 March 1986, Stevens Point, WI. (Ed. AL Koonce) pp. 1–5. (University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point: Stevens Point, WI) http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/cohen/psw_1986_cohen001.pdf.

Countryman CM (1982) Physical characteristics of some northern California brush fuels. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, General Technical Report PSW-61. (Berkeley, CA) http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr061/psw_gtr061.pdf.

Countryman CM, Philpot CW (1970) Physical characteristics of chamise as a wildland fuel. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Research Paper PSW-66. (Berkeley, CA) http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_rp066/psw_rp066.pdf.

Cruz MG, Alexander ME (2013) Uncertainty associated with model predictions of surface and crown fire rates of spread. Environmental Modelling & Software 47, 16–28.
Uncertainty associated with model predictions of surface and crown fire rates of spread.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cruz MG, Fernandes PM (2008) Development of fuel models for fire behaviour prediction in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) stands. International Journal of Wildland Fire 17, 194–204.
Development of fuel models for fire behaviour prediction in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) stands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cruz MG, McCaw WL, Anderson WR, Gould JS (2013) Fire behaviour modelling in semi-arid mallee-heath shrublands of southern Australia. Environmental Modelling & Software 40, 21–34.
Fire behaviour modelling in semi-arid mallee-heath shrublands of southern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cruz MG, Gould JS, Alexander ME, Sullivan AL, McCaw WL, Matthews S (2015) Empirical-based models for predicting head-fire rate of spread in Australian fuel types. Australian Forestry 78, 118–158.
Empirical-based models for predicting head-fire rate of spread in Australian fuel types.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Csorgo S, Faraway JJ (1996) The exact and asymptotic distributions of Cramer–von Mises statistics. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series B. Methodological 58, 221–234.

Curry JR, Fons WL (1940) Forest-fire behavior studies. Mechanical Engineering 62, 219–225.

Darling DA (1957) The Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Cramer–von Mises tests. Annals of Mathematical Statistics 28, 823–838.
The Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Cramer–von Mises tests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

De Luis M, Baeza MJ, Raventos J, Gonzalez-Hilgado J (2004) Fuel characteristics and fire behaviour in mature Mediterranean gorse shrublands. International Journal of Wildland Fire 13, 79–87.
Fuel characteristics and fire behaviour in mature Mediterranean gorse shrublands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dimitrakopoulos AP (2002) Mediterranean fuel models and potential fire behaviour in Greece. International Journal of Wildland Fire 11, 127–130.
Mediterranean fuel models and potential fire behaviour in Greece.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Engstrom JD, Butler JK, Smith SG, Baxter LL, Fletcher TH, Weise DR (2004) Ignition behavior of live California chaparral leaves. Combustion Science and Technology 176, 1577–1591.
Ignition behavior of live California chaparral leaves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXnt1Wiu7w%3D&md5=65008450189daca35a39673423275c4dCAS |

Faraway J, Marsaglia G, Marsaglia J, Baddeley A (2014) goftest: Classical goodness-of-fit tests for univariate distributions. Available at https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/goftest/index.html [Verified 23 May 2016]

Fernandes PAM (2001) Fire spread prediction in shrub fuels in Portugal. Forest Ecology and Management 144, 67–74.
Fire spread prediction in shrub fuels in Portugal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fernandes PM, Rigolot E (2007) The fire ecology and management of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.). Forest Ecology and Management 241, 1–13.
The fire ecology and management of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fernandes PM, Catchpole WR, Rego FC (2000) Shrubland fire behaviour modelling with microplot data. Canadian Journal of Research 30, 889–899.
Shrubland fire behaviour modelling with microplot data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Finney MA, Cohen JD, McAllister SS, Jolly WM (2013) On the need for a theory of wildland fire spread. International Journal of Wildland Fire 22, 25–36.
On the need for a theory of wildland fire spread.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Finney MA, Cohen JD, Forthofer JM, McAllister SS, Gollner MJ, Gorham DJ, Saito K, Akafuah NK, Adam BA, English JD (2015) Role of buoyant flame dynamics in wildfire spread Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112, 9833–9838.
Role of buoyant flame dynamics in wildfire spreadCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXhtFOksbnM&md5=8bce922e49fb2496b7c2fdbca1e16d7fCAS |

Fletcher TH, Pickett BM, Smith SG, Spittle GS, Woodhouse MM, Haake E, Weise DR (2007) Effects of moisture on ignition behavior of moist California chaparral and Utah leaves. Combustion Science and Technology 179, 1183–1203.
Effects of moisture on ignition behavior of moist California chaparral and Utah leaves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXltF2ntLo%3D&md5=cf0a3c69a079addc9b8913d8af2fbe13CAS |

Fons WL, Clements HB, George PM (1963) Scale effects on propagation rate of laboratory crib fires. Symposium (International) on Combustion 9, 860–866.
Scale effects on propagation rate of laboratory crib fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fosberg MA, Schroeder MJ (1971) Fine herbaceous fuels in fire-danger rating. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Research Note RM-185. (Fort Collins, CO)

Frandsen WH (1971) Fire spread through porous fuels from the conservation of energy. Combustion and Flame 16, 9–16.
Fire spread through porous fuels from the conservation of energy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE3MXkt1ehsro%3D&md5=3a739342defea737a38572528331cf16CAS |

Frandsen WH (1983) Modeling big sagebrush as a fuel. Journal of Range Management 36, 596–600.
Modeling big sagebrush as a fuel.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gallacher JR (2016) The influence of season, heating mode and slope angle on wildland fire behavior. PhD thesis, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT.

Hough WA, Albini FA (1978) Predicting fire behavior in palmetto–gallberry fuel complexes. USDA Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Research Paper SE-174. (Asheville, NC) Available at http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/pubs/rp/rp_se174.pdf [Verified 17 May 2016]

Jammalamadaka SR, Lund UJ (2006) The effect of wind direction on ozone levels: a case study. Environmental and Ecological Statistics 13, 287–298.
The effect of wind direction on ozone levels: a case study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xnt1yisLo%3D&md5=c99129f41cbe7f4d8bcb936ae40c10dbCAS |

Keane RE (2013) Describing wildland surface fuel loading for fire management: a review of approaches, methods and systems. International Journal of Wildland Fire 22, 51–62.
Describing wildland surface fuel loading for fire management: a review of approaches, methods and systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Khuri AI, Cornell JA (1996) ‘Response surfaces: designs and analyses.’ (Marcel Dekker: New York)

Koo E, Pagni P, Stephens S, Huff J, Woycheese J, Weise D (2005) A simple physical model for forest fire spread rate. Fire Safety Science 8, 851–862.
A simple physical model for forest fire spread rate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lindenmuth AW, Jr, Davis JR (1973) Predicting fire spread in Arizona’s oak chaparral. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Research Paper RM-101. (Fort Collins, CO) Available at http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_rm/rm_rp101.pdf [Verified 17 May 2016]

Malanson GP, Trabaud L (1988) Computer simulations of fire behaviour in garrigue in southern France. Applied Geography 8, 53–64.
Computer simulations of fire behaviour in garrigue in southern France.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marsden-Smedley JB, Catchpole WR (1995) Fire behaviour modelling in Tasmanian buttongrass moorlands: II. Fire behaviour. International Journal of Wildland Fire 5, 215–228.
Fire behaviour modelling in Tasmanian buttongrass moorlands: II. Fire behaviour.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marsden-Smedley JB, Catchpole WR, Pyrke A (2001) Fire modelling in Tasmanian buttongrass moorlands. IV. Sustaining versus non-sustaining fires. International Journal of Wildland Fire 10, 255–262.
Fire modelling in Tasmanian buttongrass moorlands. IV. Sustaining versus non-sustaining fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Martin RE, Sapsis DB (1987) A method for measuring flame sustainability of live fuels. In ‘Proceedings of the 9th conference on fire and forest meteorology’, 21–24 April 1987, San Diego, CA. pp. 71–74. (American Meteorological Society: Boston, MA)

Matthews S (2006) A process-based model of fine fuel moisture. International Journal of Wildland Fire 15, 155
A process-based model of fine fuel moisture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mayer DG, Butler DG (1993) Statistical validation. Ecological Modelling 68, 21–32.
Statistical validation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McAllister S, Grenfell I, Hadlow A, Jolly WM, Finney M, Cohen J (2012) Piloted ignition of live forest fuels. Fire Safety Journal 51, 133–142.
Piloted ignition of live forest fuels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38Xnt1yku7c%3D&md5=a92a40279f2e027875b12e0ae8fb0c43CAS |

Natural Resources Conservation Service (2016) Plants database. Available at http://plants.usda.gov [Verified 4 February 2016]

Nelson RM, Jr (2001) Water relations of forest fuels. In ‘Forest fires: behavior and ecological effects’. (Eds EA Johnson, K Miyanishi) pp. 79–149. (Academic Press: San Diego, CA)

Nelson RM, Adkins CW (1986) Flame characteristics of wind-driven surface fires. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 16, 1293–1300.
Flame characteristics of wind-driven surface fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ottmar RD, Sandberg DV, Riccardi CL, Prichard SJ (2007) An overview of the Fuel Characteristic Classification System – quantifying, classifying, and creating fuelbeds for resource planning. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 37, 2383–2393.
An overview of the Fuel Characteristic Classification System – quantifying, classifying, and creating fuelbeds for resource planning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pagni  PJPeterson  TG (1973 ) Flame spread through porous fuels. Symposium (International) on Combustion 14 , 1099110710.1016/S0082-0784(73)80099-2

Pastor E, Zarate L, Planas E, Arnaldos J (2003) Mathematical models and calculation systems for the study of wildland fire behaviour. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science 29, 139–153.
Mathematical models and calculation systems for the study of wildland fire behaviour.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Peterson TG (1972) Spread of a preheating flame through a porous fuel. MSc thesis, University of California, Berkeley, CA.

Philpot CW (1969) Seasonal changes in heat content and ether extractive content of chamise. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Research Paper INT-61. (Ogden, UT) Available at https://ia601005.us.archive.org/16/items/seasonalchangesi61phil/seasonalchangesi61phil.pdf [Verified 17 May 2016]

Pitts WM (1991) Wind effects on fires. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science 17, 83–134.
Wind effects on fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

R Core Team (2015) ‘R: a language and environment for statistical computing.’ (R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria)

Robin X, Turck N, Hainard A, Tiberti N, Lisacek F, Sanchez J-C, Müller M (2011) pROC: an open-source package for R and S+ to analyze and compare ROC curves. BMC Bioinformatics 12, 77
pROC: an open-source package for R and S+ to analyze and compare ROC curves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21414208PubMed |

Rothermel RC (1972) A mathematical model for predicting fire spread in wildland fuels. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Research Paper INT-115. (Ogden, UT) Available at http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/32533 [Verified 17 May 2016]

Rothermel RC, Philpot CW (1973) Predicting changes in chaparral flammability. Journal of Forestry 71, 640–643.

Rundel PW, Parsons DJ (1979) Structural changes in chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) along a fire-induced age gradient. Journal of Range Management 32, 462–466.
Structural changes in chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) along a fire-induced age gradient.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Saglam B, Bilgili E, Kucuk O, Durmaz BD (2008) Fire behavior in Mediterranean shrub species (maquis). African Journal of Biotechnology 7, 4122–4129.

Sakamoto Y, Ishiguro M, Kitagawa G (1986) ‘Akaike information criterion statistics.’ (Springer: Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Sandberg DV, Riccardi CL, Schaaf MD (2007) Reformulation of Rothermel’s wildland fire behaviour model for heterogeneous fuelbeds. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 37, 2438–2455.
Reformulation of Rothermel’s wildland fire behaviour model for heterogeneous fuelbeds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sanpakit C, Omodan S, Weise D, Princevac M (2015) Laboratory fire behavior measurements of chaparral crown fire. University of California Riverside Undergraduate Research Journal 9, 123–129.

Schemel CF, Simeoni A, Biteau H, Rivera JD, Torero JL (2008) A calorimetric study of wildland fuels. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science 32, 1381–1389.
A calorimetric study of wildland fuels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXotF2rsrs%3D&md5=045e96eab1b8ca07b68319311a6f42a4CAS |

Show SB (1919) Climate and forest fires in northern California. Journal of Forestry 17, 965–979.

Spiess AN (2013) predictNLS (Part 1, Monte Carlo simulation): confidence intervals for ‘nls’ models. Available at https://rmazing.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/predictnls-part-1-monte-carlo-simulation-confidence-intervals-for-nls-models [Verified 17 May 2016]

Stocks BJ, Alexander ME, Wotton BM, Stefner CN, Flannigan MD, Taylor SW, Lavoie N, Mason JA, Hartley GR, Maffey ME, Dalrymple GN, Blake TW, Cruz MG, Lanoville RA (2004) Crown fire behaviour in a northern jack pine–black spruce forest. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 34, 1548–1560.
Crown fire behaviour in a northern jack pine–black spruce forest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Streeks TJ, Owens MK, Whisenant SG (2005) Examining fire behavior in mesquite–acacia shrublands. International Journal of Wildland Fire 14, 131–140.
Examining fire behavior in mesquite–acacia shrublands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sullivan AL (2009a) Wildland surface fire spread modelling, 1990–2007. 1: Physical and quasi-physical models. International Journal of Wildland Fire 18, 349–368.
Wildland surface fire spread modelling, 1990–2007. 1: Physical and quasi-physical models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sullivan AL (2009b) Wildland surface fire spread modelling, 1990–2007. 2: Empirical and quasi-empirical models. International Journal of Wildland Fire 18, 369–386.
Wildland surface fire spread modelling, 1990–2007. 2: Empirical and quasi-empirical models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sullivan AL (2009c) Wildland surface fire spread modelling, 1990–2007. 3: Simulation and mathematical analogue models. International Journal of Wildland Fire 18, 387–403.
Wildland surface fire spread modelling, 1990–2007. 3: Simulation and mathematical analogue models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sun L, Zhou X, Mahalingam S, Weise DR (2006) Comparison of burning characteristics of live and dead chaparral fuels. Combustion and Flame 144, 349–359.
Comparison of burning characteristics of live and dead chaparral fuels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXhtlertbrJ&md5=760b080388c6f391ec3edaa3bb49230aCAS |

Susott RA (1982) Characterization of the thermal properties of forest fuels by combustible gas analysis. Forest Science 28, 404–420.

Susott RA (1982) Differential scanning calorimetry of forest fuels. Forest Science 28, 839–851.

Sylvester TW, Wein RW (1981) Fuel characteristics of arctic plant species and simulated plant community flammability by Rothermel’s model. Canadian Journal of Botany 59, 898–907.
Fuel characteristics of arctic plant species and simulated plant community flammability by Rothermel’s model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tachajapong W, Lozano J, Mahalingam S, Zhou X, Weise DR (2008) An investigation of crown fuel bulk density effects on the dynamics of crown fire initiation in shrublands. Combustion Science and Technology 180, 593–615.
An investigation of crown fuel bulk density effects on the dynamics of crown fire initiation in shrublands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhvFWhsbg%3D&md5=780fc70adc16951a35574ec0223b981bCAS |

Tachajapong W, Lozano J, Mahalingam S, Weise DR (2014) Experimental modelling of crown fire initiation in open and closed shrubland systems. International Journal of Wildland Fire 23, 451–462.
Experimental modelling of crown fire initiation in open and closed shrubland systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Thomas PH (1963) The size of flames from natural fires. Symposium (International) on Combustion 9, 844–859.
The size of flames from natural fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Van Wilgen BW (1984) Adaptation of the United States Fire Danger Rating System to fynbos conditions: Part I. A fuel model for fire danger rating in the fynbos biome. South African Forestry Journal 129, 61–65.
Adaptation of the United States Fire Danger Rating System to fynbos conditions: Part I. A fuel model for fire danger rating in the fynbos biome.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Van Wilgen BW (1986) A simple relationship for estimating the intensity of fires in natural vegetation. South African Journal of Botany 52, 384–385.

Van Wilgen BW, Le Maitre DC, Kruger FJ (1985) Fire behaviour in South African fynbos (macchia) vegetation and predictions from Rothermel’s fire model. Journal of Applied Ecology 22, 207–216.
Fire behaviour in South African fynbos (macchia) vegetation and predictions from Rothermel’s fire model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Vega JA, Cuiñas P, Fontúrbel T, Pérez-Gorostiaga P, Fernández C (1998) Predicting fire behaviour in Galician (NW Spain) shrubland fuel complexes. In ‘Proceedings of the 3rd international conference on forest fire research and 14th conference on fire and forest meteorology’, 16–20 November 1998, Luso, Portugal. pp. 713–728. (University of Coimbra: Coimbra, Portugal)

Vega Hildago JA, Cuiñas P, Fontúrbel MT, Pérez-Gorostiaga P, Fernández C, Vélez Muñoz R (2009) Desarrollo de modelos de predicción. In ‘La defensa contra incendios forestales fundamentos y experiencias’, 2nd edn. (Coord. R. Vélez) pp. 211–216. (McGraw-Hill: Madrid, Spain)

Venables WN, Ripley BD (2002) ‘Modern applied statistics with S.’ (Springer: New York)

Weber RO (1991) Towards a comprehensive wildfire spread model. International Journal of Wildland Fire 1, 245–248.
Towards a comprehensive wildfire spread model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Weise DR, Biging GS (1997) A qualitative comparison of fire spread models incorporating wind and slope effects. Forest Science 43, 170–180.

Weise DR, Zhou X, Sun L, Mahalingam S (2005) Fire spread in chaparral – ‘go or no-go?’ International Journal of Wildland Fire 14, 99–106.
Fire spread in chaparral – ‘go or no-go?’Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Weise DR, Zhou X, Mahalingam S, Chong J (2015) Marginal fire spread in live fuel beds – horizontal fuels. USDA Forest Service Research Data Archive, archived data and computer code RDS-2015–0007. (Fort Collins, CO)10.2737/RDS-2015-0007

Wells C (2008) The Rothermel fire-spread model: still running like a champ. JFSP Fire Science Digests, Paper 2. Available at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/jfspdigest/2 [Verified 16 May 2016]

Wilson RA, Jr (1982) A reexamination of fire spread in free burning porous fuel beds. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Research Paper INT-289. (Ogden, UT)

Wilson RA (1985) Observations of extinction and marginal burning states in free-burning porous fuel beds. Combustion Science and Technology 44, 179–193.
Observations of extinction and marginal burning states in free-burning porous fuel beds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wilson RA, Jr (1990) Reexamination of Rothermel’s fire spread equations in no-wind and no slope conditions. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Research Paper INT-434. (Ogden, UT)

Wu ZW, He HS, Chang Y, Liu ZH, Chen HW (2011) Development of customized fire behavior fuel models for boreal forests of north-eastern China. Environmental Management 48, 1148–1157.
Development of customized fire behavior fuel models for boreal forests of north-eastern China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21691875PubMed |

Yashwanth BL, Shotorban B, Mahalingam S, Weise DR (2015) An investigation of the influence of heating modes on ignition and pyrolysis of woody wildland fuel. Combustion Science and Technology 187, 780–796.
An investigation of the influence of heating modes on ignition and pyrolysis of woody wildland fuel.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXislCjt74%3D&md5=0d8cb5bf8341c0f614f072c8652da2a3CAS |

Yashwanth BL, Shotorban B, Mahalingam S, Lautenberger CW, Weise DR (2016) A numerical investigation of the influence of radiation and moisture content on pyrolysis and ignition of a leaf-like fuel element. Combustion and Flame 163, 301–316.
A numerical investigation of the influence of radiation and moisture content on pyrolysis and ignition of a leaf-like fuel element.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXhs1KksbfO&md5=8881be89c8c0b2c15893f1b449bcee1bCAS |

Zar JH (1974) ‘Biostatistical analysis.’ (Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ)

Zhou X, Sun L, Mahalingam S, Weise DR (2003) Thermal particle image velocity estimation of fire plume flow. Combustion Science and Technology 175, 1293–1316.
Thermal particle image velocity estimation of fire plume flow.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXlt1OhsL4%3D&md5=294ae7ce762e6860d31ca5f60a47e4f2CAS |

Zhou X, Mahalingam S, Weise DR (2005) Experimental modeling of the effect of terrain slope on marginal burning. Fire Safety Science 8, 863–874.
Experimental modeling of the effect of terrain slope on marginal burning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zhou X, Mahalingam S, Weise D (2005) Modeling of marginal burning state of fire spread in live chaparral shrub fuel bed. Combustion and Flame 143, 183–198.
Modeling of marginal burning state of fire spread in live chaparral shrub fuel bed.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXhtFarsr7E&md5=1841a3b2659b482e34f995c1a5cced20CAS |

Zhou X, Weise D, Mahalingam S (2005c) Experimental measurements and numerical modeling of marginal burning in live chaparral fuel beds. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 30, 2287–2294.
Experimental measurements and numerical modeling of marginal burning in live chaparral fuel beds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zhou X, Mahalingam S, Weise D (2007) Experimental study and large eddy simulation of effect of terrain slope on marginal burning in shrub fuel beds. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 31, 2547–2555.
Experimental study and large eddy simulation of effect of terrain slope on marginal burning in shrub fuel beds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |