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International Journal of Wildland Fire

International Journal of Wildland Fire

International Journal of Wildland Fire publishes articles on basic and applied aspects of wildland fire science including, but not confined to, ecological impact, modelling fire and its effects, and management of fire. Read more about the journalMore

Editors-in-Chief: Stefan Doerr and Martin Girardin

Publishing Model: Open Access

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. International Journal of Wildland Fire is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 29 August 2025

WF24203Impact of wildfire smoke, heat stress and sleep deprivation on the brain health of wildland firefighters

Anthony R. White
 

Wildland firefighters face brain health risks from wildfire smoke, heat, physical strain and disrupted sleep. These hazards increase neuroinflammation, cognitive decline and mental health challenges like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Protective measures, including better gear, hydration, recovery time and mental health support, are essential. Research is needed to understand and mitigate long-term effects.

WF24203 Abstract  |  WF24203 Full Text  | WF24203PDF (900 KB)  | WF24203Supplementary Material (122 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 27 August 2025

WF24190Does the temporal variation of leaf terpene and moisture content trigger leaf flammability over time?

Anne Ganteaume, Bastien Romero, Elena Ormeño, Caroline Lecareux and Catherine Fernandez
 

Relationships between terpenes, FMC and flammability varied over time, patterns differing according to species, and the effect of FMC being overridden by terpenes. Species flammability could be enhanced by higher terpene concentrations outside summer, the fire season in Mediterranean regions. This should be accounted for in WUI fire prevention.

WF24190 Abstract  |  WF24190 Full Text  | WF24190PDF (1.9 MB)  | WF24190Supplementary Material (879 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 25 August 2025

WF25023Fuel-aware forest fire danger rating system RISICO: a comparative study for Italy

Nicolò Perello 0000-0003-4097-9180, Andrea Trucchia 0000-0001-7294-9061, Mirko D’Andrea, Giorgio Meschi, Farzad Ghasemiazma, Silvia Degli Esposti, Paolo Fiorucci, Luca Ferraris, Andrea Gollini and Dario Negro
 

Wildfire risk is increasing owing to human actions, requiring improved fire danger models. The RISICO model, used in Italy for decades, integrates fuel characteristics and hourly outputs. Testing over 16 years shows RISICO outperforms traditional indices, enhancing spatial and temporal fire danger prediction for better wildfire management.

This article belongs to the collection: Fire Behaviour and Fuels Conference.

WF25023 Abstract  |  WF25023 Full Text  | WF25023PDF (5 MB)  | WF25023Supplementary Material (4.8 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 22 August 2025

WF24148Developing an impact index for the Australian Fire Danger Rating System: predicting potential structure loss from wildfires

Dan Krix 0000-0002-0733-1254, James Monks, Stuart Matthews, Meaghan Jenkins, Alex Holmes, Sam Sauvage and John W. Runcie
 

In this paper predictive spatial models for structure loss to wildfire in Australia were presented. Structure counts, cleared land percentage, surrounding structures, terrain ruggedness and tree canopy height were used as predictors. Model outputs can be used to generate spatial predictions complementing existing fire behaviour predictions.

WF24148 Abstract  |  WF24148 Full Text  | WF24148PDF (2.8 MB)  | WF24148Supplementary Material (8.2 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 20 August 2025

WF24232Mapping fire hazard potential in Kazakhstan: a machine learning and remote sensing perspective

Daniker Chepashev, Serik Nurakynov 0000-0001-9735-7820, Divyansh Sharma, Nurmakhambet Sydyk and Gulzhiyan Kabdulova
 

The study applies the MaxEnt model to map wildfire risk across Kazakhstan using machine learning and remote sensing. Environmental data from satellites were analyzed, achieving a prediction accuracy of 72%. The resulting high-resolution map identifies fire-prone areas, aiding resource allocation and strategy development for wildfire management, especially in climate-sensitive regions.

WF24232 Abstract  |  WF24232 Full Text  | WF24232PDF (6.4 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 14 August 2025

WF25016A novel fire regime driven by increased lightning activity and lightning ignition efficiency for northwestern Patagonia, Argentina

Thomas Kitzberger and Rodrigo E. Bürgesser
 

Lake Nahuel Huapi, Argentina during a lightning storm; overlaid are the number of lightning ignitions increasing from 1950–2020.

Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina, is witnessing accelerated changes in fire regimes. Wildfires ignited by lightning have increased 1700% over the last 70 years over four national parks. A combination of increased atmospheric instability and extreme fire weather induced by climate change, is producing unprecedentedly frequent, large and severe naturally-ignited wildfires.

WF25016 Abstract  |  WF25016 Full Text  | WF25016PDF (4.3 MB)  | WF25016Supplementary Material (1.4 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 08 August 2025

WF25002Extensive fires in Australia’s northern spinifex deserts – investigating the 2023 ‘Black Spring’ and the influence of indigenous fire management

Rohan Fisher, Sarah Legge, Gareth Catt and Hannah Cliff
 

Climate change is causing extensive fire in some regions. Extensive fires in remote areas receive little attention. In 2023, over 294,000 km2 of Australia’s northern spinifex deserts (41% of the region) burned in spring, after above-average rainfall. Where large-scale Indigenous fire management has occurred since 2019, the fire spread was interrupted.

This article belongs to the collection: Fire Behaviour and Fuels Conference.

WF25002 Abstract  |  WF25002 Full Text  | WF25002PDF (4.1 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 08 August 2025

WF25088Can the National Fire-Danger Rating System (NFDRS)-1978 of the United States be effective in other regions? Israel as a case study

Edna Guk 0000-0002-2409-9047, Avi Bar-Massada and Noam Levin 0000-0002-9434-7501
 

We found that at coarse time scales (weekly-monthly) the NFDRS Burning Index is moderately correlated with wildfire size in non-U.S. ecosystems. Predictive accuracy improves when combining the index with local data such as vegetation and human factors. The findings offer a roadmap for adapting the NFDRS to broader international applications.

WF25088 Abstract  |  WF25088 Full Text  | WF25088PDF (1.6 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 06 August 2025

WF24214Characterizing fire history on military land using machine learning and landsat imagery

Maura C. O’Grady 0000-0002-5937-1450, Adam G. Wells, Michael G. Just and Wade A. Wall
 

We successfully estimated where and when fires occurred on four United States military installations between 1984–2023 using satellite imagery and two machine learning algorithms. The resulting fire history information can be used by local land managers, and the methodology presented can be expanded to other national defense lands.

WF24214 Abstract  |  WF24214 Full Text  | WF24214PDF (2.5 MB)  | WF24214Supplementary Material (690 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 30 July 2025

WF24208The response of reptiles and mammals to fire-driven vegetation succession in semi-arid Triodia-mallee woodlands

Jules E. Farquhar 0000-0002-1894-7580, Wyn Russell, Jesse B. Farquhar, Simon Cook and Ashley R. Olson 0000-0002-3753-4482
 

This study examines how fire impacts small vertebrates in Triodia-mallee landscapes by altering vegetation structure. Species show varied responses to fire, with some thriving shortly after burns and others peaking decades later. Findings highlight the importance of region-specific research to improve conservation and land management strategies in fire-affected ecosystems.

WF24208 Abstract  |  WF24208 Full Text  | WF24208PDF (3.1 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 29 July 2025

WF25083Extreme blocking ridges are associated with vegetation fire occurrence in England

Kerryn Little 0000-0002-8303-5297, Dante Castellanos-Acuna, Nicholas Kettridge 0000-0003-3995-0305, Mike Flannigan 0000-0002-9970-5363 and Piyush Jain
 

We investigate the role of stationary high pressure weather systems on surface fire weather and fire occurrence in the United Kingdom, an emerging fire prone region. We find these patterns are important for larger vegetation fires, particularly in heathland/moorland and grasslands. This demonstrates potential to improve forecasting tools for fire managers.

WF25083 Abstract  |  WF25083 Full Text  | WF25083PDF (3.6 MB)  | WF25083Supplementary Material (1.6 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 24 July 2025

WF24123A flammability phenology for dry mixed heaths and its implications for modelling fire behaviour

Claire M. Belcher 0000-0003-3496-8290, Rayanne Vitali, Tadas Nikonovas, Kerryn Little 0000-0002-8303-5297, Andrew Elliott, Sarah J. Baker, Alastair J. Crawford 0000-0002-2133-2886, Stefan H. Doerr 0000-0002-8700-9002, Nicholas Kettridge 0000-0003-3995-0305 and Gareth D. Clay
 

Photograph of a dry heathland with yellow and purple flowers, under a clear blue sky.

We report phenological variations in temperature, humidity, fuel moisture, heat content and flammability of dry heathland fuels. Live fuel moisture was found to be the most important factor influencing fire behaviour predictions. Live fuel moisture phenology must be included in models that predict fire behaviour in temperate shrubland fuels. Photograph by Claire M. Belcher.

WF24123 Abstract  |  WF24123 Full Text  | WF24123PDF (2.6 MB)  | WF24123Supplementary Material (53 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 11 July 2025

WF24220A novel methodology to assess fuel treatment effectiveness: application to California’s forests

Kendra Fallon, John T. Abatzoglou, Matthew D. Hurteau, Ramona J. Butz, Beth Buchanan, Jennifer Pierce, James McNamara, Megan Cattau, Seyd Teymoor Seydi and Mojtaba Sadegh 0000-0003-1775-5445
 

Using 1621 treatment sequences applied to areas subsequently intersected by wildfires in California, we show 61% of the treatments were effective. Fire and fuel removal treatments were most effective and rearrangement was least effective. Treatment effectiveness enhances when applied at large scale. Weather impacts on treatment effectiveness were minimal.

WF24220 Abstract  |  WF24220 Full Text  | WF24220PDF (1.7 MB)  | WF24220Supplementary Material (1.2 MB)   Open Access Article

Just Accepted

These articles have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. They are still in production and have not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

Most Read

The Most Read ranking is based on the number of downloads in the last 60 days from papers published on the CSIRO PUBLISHING website within the last 12 months. Usage statistics are updated daily.

  10. The impacts of fire use in the Brazilian Amazon: a bibliometric analysis

    International Journal of Wildland Fire 34 (4)
    Amanda Kesley Cardozo Cancio, Mayerly Alexandra Guerrero-Moreno 0000-0002-6767-2966, Everton Cruz da Silva, Fernando Abreu Oliveira, Karina Dias-Silva, James Ferreira Moura Jr, Thiago Almeida Vieira, Lenize Batista Calvão, Leandro Juen, José Max Barbosa Oliveira-Junior

Collections

Collections are a curation of articles relevant to a topical research area

Fire and Climate

This Special Collection on “Fire and Climate” showcases papers from and inspired by the eponymous conferences hosted by the International Association of Wildland Fire. The collection explores the way that climate change is affecting wildfire around the world – and the ways that changes in societal, legal, and political climate changes interact with these geophysical processes.

Guest Editor
Eric B. Kenedy (York University, Canada)

Last Updated: 05 Aug 2025

Multi-scale measurements in support of improved fire, fuel, and smoke models of landscape-level wildland fires

Landscape scale prescribed fires offer a valuable opportunity for advancing fire science through comprehensive interdisciplinary research experiments with the ability to investigate ecosystems prior to, during and after fires. This collection deals with the co-production of management-relevant science between fire managers and researchers with a focus on state-of-the art measurements of 3D fuels, fire behavior and smoke dynamics to inform and improve the development of next-generation fuels, fire and smoke models.

Collection Editors
Joseph J. O’Brien (USDA)
Andrew Hudak (USDA)
Alistair Smith (University of Idaho)

Last Updated: 18 Jul 2025

Fire Behaviour and Fuels Conference

This is a Collection of papers from Fire Behaviour and Fuels Conference.

Guest Editors
Stephen Sutton
Juncal Espinosa
Mike Wilson
Yucheng He
Tao Huang
Hussam Mahmoud
Eric Mueller
Akshat Chulahwat

Last Updated: 10 Jul 2025

Establishing Directions in Postfire Debris-Flow Science

Post-wildfire debris flow science encompasses a wide variety of fields, including hydrology, geomorphology, engineering, remote sensing, atmospheric science, ecology, and data science. This Collection is intended to bring together a diverse set of publications that advance postfire debris flow science, focusing on future directions.

Guest Editors
Francis Rengers (US Geological Survey)
Luke McGuire (University of Arizona)
Nina Oakley (California Geological Survey)
Ann Youberg (University of Arizona)

Last Updated: 10 Jul 2025

Savanna Burning

As demonstrated in Australian savannas, reducing carbon emissions through active fire management can generate tradable carbon credits providing income and employment opportunities for Indigenous and remote communities, and support biodiversity conservation. The success of this management approach has led to suggestions that it can be extended to other continents, for notable example in southern Africa and South America. This special issue of the International Journal of Wildland Fire aims to explore the status of technical challenges, opportunities and potential livelihood and ecological benefits, associated with applying market-based fire management approaches in severely fire-impacted tropical savanna systems.

Last Updated: 28 Feb 2025

Australian Fire Danger Rating System

This Collection in International Journal of Wildland Fire presents a series of papers that describe the development of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS). This new system was conceived following a review of existing Australian fire danger rating systems and associated danger categories in 2014. It was implemented in 2022 and has since been modified to improve performance, accuracy, and public-facing requirements.

Guest Editor
Paulo Fernandez (Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal)

Last Updated: 04 Jul 2024

Celebrating 30 Years of Wildland Fire Science Publication

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of International Journal of Wildland Fire (IJWF), the official journal of the International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF), we have put together this Collection that includes a selection of review papers published in IJWF over the past 12 years, a compilation that highlights the wide range of disciplines in wildland fire research. In line with our commitment to diversity, authors and co-authors come from at least seven countries, and the corresponding authors on six of the 15 papers are female. We invite you to explore the full breadth of topics included in this Collection.

Collection Editors
Susan G. Conard, Stefan Doerr, and Jenny Foster

Last Updated: 27 May 2021

25 Years of International Journal of Wildland Fire

To celebrate 25 years of publication of International Journal of Wildland Fire, we present this Collection that includes some of the most-cited Research Papers we have published over the years. This Collection includes two papers from each five-year period, starting in 1991. One of these is the paper from each period that has received the most citations to date. To highlight the geographic scope of IJWF publications, the second paper is the most-cited paper where the lead author is from a different country than the highest-cited one.

Last Updated: 05 Dec 2016

Atmospheric Research

This Collection of International Journal of Wildland Fire covers the theme of Atmospheric Research, and was launched to coincide with the 2016 International Smoke Symposium (Long Beach, California) and the AGU Fall Meeting (San Francisco, California). This collection showcases a diverse array of topics from a variety of geographical areas, including methods for tracking, modelling and inventory, social implications, climate implications, current and future research needs, and practical field management techniques for smoke.

Last Updated: 27 Oct 2016

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IJWF Content Free to IAWF Members

All non-OA journal content published prior to 2024 can be accessed by IAWF members through the IAWF Members-Only site.

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