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Project ResearchersDave Schroeder (Lead Researcher) BackgroundReports from British Columbia suggest that fire intensity and fire spread rates increase in beetle-killed pine stands, raising concerns for crew safety, protection of values at risk, operations planning and forest regeneration. In response, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD) approached the FPInnovations Wildland Fire Operations Research Group to conduct research concerning the fire behaviour in pine stands attacked by mountain pine beetle. The research approach is to simulate pine beetle attack by girdling the trees. This allows the research site to be located in an area where test burns can be done with minimal suppression effort and little risk of escape fires. The approach also allows control burns (stands with no attack) to be done simultaneously with the girdled plots. ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to determine and document fire behaviour in pine stands with severe mortality due to the Mountain Pine Beetle. Specifically, we aim to evaluate the differences in (1) crown fire ignition and (2) crown fire rates of spread between (a) green trees and green-attack trees and (b) green trees and red-attack trees. Study SiteThe study site is located at Archer Lake in the Waterways District of NE Alberta. The area is dominated by Jack pine with a lichen ground cover. The study site is generally flat.
Experimental PlotsSix study plots were established. The trees in the east half of each plot were girdled to simulate attack by Mountain Pine Beetle, assuming 100% mortality.
Experimental BurnsDepending on prevailing wind direction, selected plots are planned for burning: Spring 2008 - ‘green attack' Fall 2008 - ‘red attack' Suggested fire weather indices are a minimum BUI of 60 and an ISI between 16 and 20, based on a C3 fuel type.
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Fire Behaviour in Simulated Mountain Pine Beetle Attacked Pine Stand Project Page 3/27/2008 |
