
TY  - JOUR
A1  - McAlpine, RS 
T1  - Testing the Effect of Fuel Consumption on Fire Spread Rate
JF  - International Journal of Wildland Fire
JO  - Int. J. Wildland Fire
Y1  - 1995
VL  - 5
IS  - 3
SP  - 143
EP  - 152
KW  - Fire behavior; Fuel consumption; Fuel load; Rate of spread
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/WF9950143 
N2  - It has been theorized that the amount of fuel involved in a fire front can influence the rate of spread of the fire. Three data sets are examined in an attempt to prove this relationship. The first, a Canadian Forest Service database of over 400 experimental, wild, and prescribed fires showed a weak relationship in some fuel complexes. The second, a series of field experimental fires conducted to isolate the relationship, showed a small effect. The final data set, from a series of 47 small plots (3m x 3m) burned with a variety of fuel loadings, also show a weak relationship. While a relationship was shown to exist, it is debatable whether it should be included in a fire behavior prediction system. Inherent errors associated with predicting fuel consumption can be compounded, causing additional, more critical, errors with the derived fire spread rate. 
ER  -

