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
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Illnesses/Injuries
• Fatigue
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Illnesses/Injuries
• Fatigue
• Smoke
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Illnesses/Injuries
• Fatigue
• Smoke
• Heat Stress
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Illnesses/Injuries
• Fatigue
• Smoke
• Heat Stress
• Ankle/Knee/Back
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Fatalities
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Fatalities
• Burnovers
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Fatalities
• Burnovers
• Heart Attacks
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Fatalities
• Burnovers
• Heart Attacks
• Aircraft Accidents
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Fatalities
• Burnovers
• Heart Attacks
• Aircraft Accidents
• Vehicle Accidents
20th Century Improvements
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
20th Century Improvements
• Air Tankers
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
20th Century Improvements
• Air Tankers• Helicopters
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Other Important 20th Century Improvements
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Other Important 20th Century Improvements
• Protective Clothing
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Other Important 20th Century Improvements
• Protective Clothing• Engine Protection
Systems
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Other Important 20th Century Improvements
• Protective Clothing• Engine Protection
Systems• Ignition Systems
(Ground and Aerial)
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Some Subtle Improvements
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Some Subtle Improvements
• Remote Automatic Weather Stations
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Some Subtle Improvements
• Remote Automatic Weather Stations
• Fire Behavior Modeling
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Some Subtle Improvements
• Remote Automatic Weather Stations
• Fire Behavior Modeling
• Satellite Technology (Green-up & Drought)
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Some Subtle Improvements
• Remote Automatic Weather Stations
• Fire Behavior Modeling
• Satellite Technology (Green-up & Drought)
• Lightning Detection
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Research & Development Facilities
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Research & Development Facilities
• CSIRO and NRE (Australia)
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Research & Development Facilities
• CSIRO and NRE (Australia)
• Private (i.e. Iturri Company, Spain)
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Research & Development Facilities
• CSIRO and NRE (Australia)
• Private (i.e. Iturri Company, Spain)
• Canadian Forest Service
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Research & Development Facilities
• CSIRO and NRE (Australia)
• Private (i.e. Iturri Company, Spain)
• Canadian Forest Service
• Siberian Fire Research Labs
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Research & Development Facilities
• CSIRO and NRE (Australia)
• Private (i.e. Iturri Company, Spain)
• Canadian Forest Service
• 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
• Needed Information/Equipment
• Cost Efficient
Key Components
• Needed Information/Equipment
• Cost Efficient
• Timely
Key Components
• Needed Information/Equipment
• 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
Obstacles to Improving Wildfire Safety
• Tradition
Obstacles to Improving Wildfire Safety
• Tradition
• Ownership
Obstacles to Improving Wildfire Safety
• Tradition
• Ownership
• Physical Limitations
Obstacles to Improving Wildfire Safety
• Tradition
• Ownership
• Physical Limitations
• Costs
Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety
Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety
• Knowledge-based
Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety
• Knowledge-based• Equipment-based
Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety
• Knowledge-based• Equipment-based• Behavior-based
Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety
• Knowledge-based• Equipment-based• Behavior-based
• Health & Fitness
Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety
• Knowledge-based• Equipment-based• Behavior-based
• Health & Fitness• Decision Support
Systems
Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety
• Knowledge-based• Equipment-based• Behavior-based
• 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
Some Success Stories
• Project Vesta (Australia)
Some Success Stories
• Project Vesta (Australia)
• Int. Crown Fire Modeling Expt. (Canada)
Equipment - Based
Equipment - Based
• Protective Clothing
Equipment - Based
• Protective Clothing
• Personal Shelters– Australian Blankets– U.S Fire Shelters
Equipment - Based
• Protective Clothing
• Personal Shelters– Australian Blankets– U.S Fire Shelters
• Respiratory Protection
Equipment - Based
• Protective Clothing
• Personal Shelters– Australian Blankets– U.S Fire Shelters
• Respiratory Protection
• Engines/Tankers
Behavior-Based
Behavior-Based• Human Factors
Behavior-Based• Human Factors
• Crew Cohesion
Behavior-Based• Human Factors
• Crew Cohesion
• Fireline Leadership
Behavior-Based• Human Factors
• Crew Cohesion
• Fireline Leadership
• Decision-Making Under Stress
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Health & Fitness-Based
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Health & Fitness-Based
• Work Capacity Tests
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Health & Fitness-Based
• Work Capacity Tests• Nutrition
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Health & Fitness-Based
• Work Capacity Tests• Nutrition• Injury Analysis
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Health & Fitness-Based
• Work Capacity Tests• Nutrition• Injury Analysis• Work Hardening
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Health & Fitness-Based
• Work Capacity Tests• Nutrition• Injury Analysis• Work Hardening• Work/Rest/Fatigue
Decision Support Systems
Decision Support Systems
• Integration of GPS/GIS/IR
Decision Support Systems
• Integration of GPS/GIS/IR
• Dispatch Automation and Coordination
Decision Support Systems
• Integration of GPS/GIS/IR
• Dispatch Automation and Coordination
• Risk Analysis Processes
Wildland Interface Fires
Wildland Interface Fires
• Firesafe Building Materials
Wildland Interface Fires
• Firesafe Building Materials
• Vegetation Management
Wildland Interface Fires
• Firesafe Building Materials
• Vegetation Management
• Public Education
Wildland Interface Fires
• Firesafe Building Materials
• Vegetation Management
• Public Education
• Structure Protection Systems
Bringing Our Research Efforts Together….
Bringing Our Research Efforts Together….
• Universities
Bringing Our Research Efforts Together….
• Universities
• Professional Societies
Bringing Our Research Efforts Together….
• Universities
• Professional Societies
• Conferences
Bringing Our Research Efforts Together….
• Universities
• Professional Societies
• Conferences
• U.N./E.U.
Bringing Our Research Efforts Together….
• Universities
• Professional Societies
• Conferences
• U.N./E.U.
• IUFFRO
Bringing Our Research Efforts Together….
• Universities
• Professional Societies
• Conferences
• U.N./E.U.
• IUFFRO
• Government Agencies
The Results of Your Efforts…..