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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 18(5)

Landscape structural features control fire size in a Mediterranean forested area of central Spain

Olga Viedma A , D. G. Angeler A and José M. Moreno A B
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A Department of Environmental Sciences, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avenida Carlos III, s/n, E-45071 Toledo, Spain.

B Corresponding author. Email: josem.moreno@uclm.es

International Journal of Wildland Fire 18(5) 575-583 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF08030
Submitted: 19 February 2008  Accepted: 12 September 2008   Published: 10 August 2009

Abstract

Landscape structure may affect fire propagation and fire size. Propagation may be favoured in landscapes that are homogeneous and hindered at places of greater heterogeneity, and where discontinuities occur. We tested whether there is continuity in landscape structure across the edges of 110 fires in the Sierra de Gredos (central Spain). We used Landsat Multispectral Scanner images to map and assess the land-cover composition and other features of fires. Landscape diversity along the pixel row of the fire edge and of the two adjacent ones (burned and unburned) was compared for all fires. Additionally, changes in landscape properties and fuel hazard perpendicular to the fire edge evaluated the degree of discontinuity from inside the burn towards the outside across the edge. Fire size was related to landscape properties and weather conditions using generalized linear regression models. Diversity increased from inside the burn towards the edge and outside the burn. Discontinuity in land-cover types and fuel hazard increased from the inside towards the outside. Modelling confirmed that fire size was in part related to landscape characteristics of the burned area and of the edges of the fire perimeter. We conclude that landscape structure was important in determining fire size in this area.

Additional keywords: fuel discontinuity, fuel diversity, GLM, global change, land-use/land-cover change, topographic complexity.


Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by the European Commission (contract EV96–0320, project LUCIFER, and contract EVG1-CT-2001–00043, project SPREAD to J. M. Moreno).


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