Author(s)

M. D. Schreuder, M. D. Schaaf & Da. V. Sandberg

Abstract

This paper evaluates the conceptual crown fire potential equations developed by Schaaf et al against observations and modelling results in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) stands in Greece. The equations, integrated into the Fuel Characteristic Classification System (FCCS) in the United States, are currently used to rank the potential for passive or active crowning across a diverse set of wildland fuelbeds. The framework is based on an extension of the work by Van Wagner and Rothermel but introduces several new physical concepts to the modelling of crown fire behaviour, including the reformulated Rothermel surface fire modelling concepts proposed by Sandberg et al. A sensitivity analysis comparing the FCCS Torching Potential (TP) and Active Crown Fire Potential (AP) against field observations and CFIS modelling outputs has produced encouraging results, suggesting that the FCCS crown fire potentials might be a useful tool for fire managers in the Mediterranean region to consider when evaluating the relative behaviour of crown fires in vegetated canopies. Keywords: crown fire, crown fire potential, modelling, fire behaviour, canopy, torching, active crown fire, FCCS, aleppo pine, Mediterranean. 1 Introduction The Fuel Characteristic Classification System (FCCS), [6], is a system that describes the physical characteristics of any North American wildland fuelbed, regardless of complexity, and facilitates comparisons of the physical fuelbed characteristics and fire potentials. FCCS enables the user to assess the absolute and relative effects of fuelbed differences due to natural events, fuel management

Keywords

crown fire, crown fire potential, modelling, fire behaviour, canopy, torching, active crown fire, FCCS, aleppo pine, Mediterranean