This article reviews social science research on Indigenous wildfire management in Australia, Canada and the United States after the year 2000 and explores future research needs in the field.

We evaluate the rate of smoking-caused wildfires as a function of weather, other ignitions, adult smokers, improved wildfire cause-determination methods and sale of less fire-prone cigarettes. We find a reduction in smoking-caused wildfires by 23% from less fire-prone cigarettes, 48% from improved cause classification and 9% from the decline in adult smokers.

In this study, a new assessment of householder preparedness for wildfire that can be used by householders, practitioners and researchers was developed. This tool focuses on preparedness to (i) evacuate, (ii) actively defend the property and (iii) improve the prospects of a house surviving a fire with no defender present.

Simulations with a coupled weather–wildland fire model and airborne infrared imagery were used to investigate the 2006 Esperanza wildfire. Fire growth was directed by Santa Ana winds that were channelled by mountain ranges, accelerated over peaks and driven across canyons, and by the fire drawing itself up drainages. Simulations captured observed fire spread west-south-westward, splitting of the head, flank runs and feathering at the leading edge.

In this paper, daily area burned records from 18 Portuguese districts are analysed. A time series clustering approach that combines extreme value theory and classification techniques is adopted for the analysis of the extreme area burned and regional variability in Portugal from 1980 to 2010.

We describe effects of fires of various severities on biomass and fuel characteristics for a typical dry Scots pine forest in central Siberia. Post-fire accumulation of different components of above-ground biomass was related to both fire severity and time since burning. Such data provide a basis for quantifying and modelling post-fire fuel dynamics and carbon stocks.

A high-intensity wildfire burnt through a dry Eucalyptus forest that had been fuel treated 3 months prior. Carbon loss and greenhouse gas emissions were measured after wildfire, both with and without prior fuel reduction burning. The paper discusses the benefits of prescribed fire in reducing wildfire emissions.

Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is expanding beyond its historical range. Prescribed fire is needed to reduce wildfire risk and invasion. Hotter fires and lower live fuel moisture (LFM) increase J. virginiana ignition. LFM <60% represents a threshold of rapid ignition, greater flame lengths, higher fuel consumption and increased risk.

Mathematical models of the trajectory, oscillations, rotation, and mass and size time-evolution of cylindrical wind-driven firebrands are proposed. The total distance travelled by the firebrand is an increasing function of its initial aspect ratio. Particle initial orientation relative to the wind, and its oscillation, significantly influence its trajectory.

Two sets of flight trials explored the potential of night vision aids in aerial wildfire detection. One was a controlled experiment and the other part of operational aerial detection patrols. Small fires could be detected and reliably discriminated using night vision goggles from distances compatible with daytime aerial detection patrols.

This study aims to improve fine fuel moisture content prediction below fibre saturation of Pinus pinaster dead needles through modelling of sorption processes and equilibrium moisture content. Good fit between the results of combinations of models and laboratory and field measurements was obtained.

Simulation modelling revealed that defoliation by western spruce budworm inhibited the vertical spread of fire into a tree crown as well as the horizontal spread of fire between adjacent trees.

Ash crust formation can occur following severe wildfire events. Initial ash composition and a hydrating rainfall event are necessary precursors for crust formation. An ash crust can decrease ash hydraulic conductivity by 1 order of magnitude as well as significantly decrease ash layer porosity and increase bulk density.

Using a conceptual framework we make explicit some of the necessary but often hidden trade-offs that are implicit in assessments of ‘shared responsibility’ for wildfire management. We compare and contrast potential legal and governance implications of four extreme positions on wildfire management to encourage stakeholders to acknowledge and debate the necessary value trade-offs.

We studied the surface fire regime in a forest on tribal lands where prescribed burning has occurred since the 1960s. Fire frequency and synchrony were similar, but fire seasonality was dissimilar, between the historical and modern land-use periods. Fuels, climate and human land uses regulated the fire regime over time.

We quantified the winter and spring diet of silky mice (Pseudomys apodemoides) and heath rats (P. shortridgei) at sites ranging from 2 to 55 years post fire. Silky mice ate different foods at very recently burnt and mature forest sites whereas heath rats ate similar foods across the time-since-fire spectrum.

Alternatives to mass evacuation during a wildfire are being increasingly considered in the United States. We examine how individuals in four communities considering an alternative assess the issues. The tension between increasing safety and reducing uncertainty for emergency responders versus for residents is a key consideration in choosing a preferred strategy.

Many residents of at-risk areas delay committing to defence or evacuation as their response to wildfire threat. This study compared several plausible causes of decision delay and determined that householders’ delay was best predicted by the difference in perceived values of defending v. evacuating, resulting in decision delay when both options get closer in attractiveness.

Time series of low-resolution satellite imagery were analysed with the use of the Breaks for Additive Seasonal and Trend (BFAST) method. Trend changes were identified after a fire event in southern Greece, resulting in the mapping of the burned area and illustration of the post-fire vegetation recovery trend.

We developed an approach to derive continuous maps of daily fire progression using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) active fire and thermal anomaly data. The method outperformed the temporal reporting accuracy of two MODIS burnt area products. Remote sensing data on fire progression have the potential to improve our understanding of climate and vegetation controls fire behaviour and emissions.

Burned areas were investigated ~20 years after fire events in Greece. Results indicated that the synergy of multi-temporal optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images could provide valuable information for monitoring long-term post-fire vegetation recovery.

This research proposes a process to generate a fuel map for large areas, using the Fuel Characteristic Classification System. Fuelbeds were built to represent fuels across the continent of South America. Fire potentials including indexed values of surface fire behaviour, crown fire and available fuels were computed and mapped, enabling users to assess fire hazard, predict fire behaviour and calculate fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

This study investigates the selectivity of fire in relation to land cover type and topography in Southern Europe. Shrubland and grassland are more fire prone, whereas agricultural areas and artificial surfaces are less susceptible to burn. There are significant differences between countries and regions. Slopes >25% and north facing ones were less fire prone.

This paper presents a method to generate fire risk maps making extensive use of geographic information technologies. It describes how the variables were generated and integrated, and how the final index was validated using two years of fire occurrence.