Improving Wildland Fire Safety: A Challenge for Forest Fire Researchers Richard J. Mangan Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA

Improving Wildland Fire Safety:

A Challenge for Forest

Fire Researchers

Richard J. Mangan

Blackbull Wildfire Services

Missoula, Montana USA

A High Risk Environment for Firefighters

Illnesses/Injuries/Fatalities

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA

Illnesses/Injuries


Illnesses/Injuries

• Fatigue


Illnesses/Injuries

• Fatigue

• Smoke


Illnesses/Injuries

• Fatigue

• Smoke

• Heat Stress


Illnesses/Injuries

• Fatigue

• Smoke

• Heat Stress

• Ankle/Knee/Back


Fatalities


Fatalities

• Burnovers


Fatalities

• Burnovers

• Heart Attacks


Fatalities

• Burnovers

• Heart Attacks

• Aircraft Accidents


Fatalities

• Burnovers

• Heart Attacks

• Aircraft Accidents

• Vehicle Accidents

20th Century Improvements



• Air Tankers



• Air Tankers• Helicopters


Other Important 20th Century Improvements



• Protective Clothing



• Protective Clothing• Engine Protection

Systems



• Protective Clothing• Engine Protection

Systems• Ignition Systems

(Ground and Aerial)


Some Subtle Improvements



• Remote Automatic Weather Stations




• Fire Behavior Modeling





• Satellite Technology (Green-up & Drought)





• Satellite Technology (Green-up & Drought)

• Lightning Detection


Research & Development Facilities



• CSIRO and NRE (Australia)




• Private (i.e. Iturri Company, Spain)





• Canadian Forest Service






• Siberian Fire Research Labs






• Siberian Fire Research Labs

• US Forest Service Fire Labs

and T&D Centers

Few in Number, World-wide in Scope

Our Challenge“…coordinate integrated research

among physical, biological and social science researchers to develop

meaningful products, with effective technology transfer, for field

firefighters….”

Key Components

Key Components

• Needed Information/Equipment

Key Components


• Cost Efficient

Key Components


• Cost Efficient

• Timely

Key Components


• Cost Efficient

• Timely

• User-Friendly

Who is Your Market??

Who is Your Market??

1st World, 2nd World, and 3rd World Nations, and their

Firefighters

Obstacles to Improving Wildfire Safety


• Tradition


• Tradition

• Ownership


• Tradition

• Ownership

• Physical Limitations


• Tradition

• Ownership

• Physical Limitations

• Costs

Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety


• Knowledge-based


• Knowledge-based• Equipment-based


• Knowledge-based• Equipment-based• Behavior-based



• Health & Fitness



• Health & Fitness• Decision Support

Systems



• Health & Fitness• Decision Support

Systems• Urban Interface

Knowledge-Based

Knowledge-Based

• Fire Weather

Knowledge-Based

• Fire Weather

• Fire Behavior

Knowledge-Based

• Fire Weather

• Fire Behavior– Spotting

Knowledge-Based

• Fire Weather

• Fire Behavior– Spotting– Crowning

Knowledge-Based

• Fire Weather

• Fire Behavior– Spotting– Crowning– Extreme Behavior

Knowledge-Based

• Fire Weather

• Fire Behavior– Spotting– Crowning– Extreme Behavior

• Smoke Management

Some Success Stories


• Project Vesta (Australia)


• Project Vesta (Australia)

• Int. Crown Fire Modeling Expt. (Canada)

Equipment - Based

Equipment - Based


Equipment - Based


• Personal Shelters– Australian Blankets– U.S Fire Shelters

Equipment - Based



• Respiratory Protection

Equipment - Based



• Respiratory Protection

• Engines/Tankers

Behavior-Based

Behavior-Based• Human Factors


• Crew Cohesion


• Crew Cohesion

• Fireline Leadership


• Crew Cohesion

• Fireline Leadership

• Decision-Making Under Stress


Health & Fitness-Based



• Work Capacity Tests



• Work Capacity Tests• Nutrition



• Work Capacity Tests• Nutrition• Injury Analysis



• Work Capacity Tests• Nutrition• Injury Analysis• Work Hardening



• Work Capacity Tests• Nutrition• Injury Analysis• Work Hardening• Work/Rest/Fatigue

Decision Support Systems


• Integration of GPS/GIS/IR



• Dispatch Automation and Coordination



• Dispatch Automation and Coordination

• Risk Analysis Processes

Wildland Interface Fires


• Firesafe Building Materials



• Vegetation Management




• Public Education




• Public Education

• Structure Protection Systems

Bringing Our Research Efforts Together….


• Universities


• Universities

• Professional Societies


• Universities


• Conferences


• Universities


• Conferences

• U.N./E.U.


• Universities


• Conferences

• U.N./E.U.

• IUFFRO


• Universities


• Conferences

• U.N./E.U.

• IUFFRO

• Government Agencies

The Results of Your Efforts…..

Documents

Improving Wildland Fire Safety: A Challenge for Forest Fire Researchers Richard J. Mangan Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA