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
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
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•
•
•
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
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•
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•
Burnovers
Heart Attacks
Aircraft Accidents
Vehicle Accidents
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
th
20
Century Improvements
th
20
Century Improvements
• Air Tankers
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
th
20
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
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•
•
•
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
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•
•
•
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
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
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
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•
•
•
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
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•
Human Factors
Crew Cohesion
Fireline Leadership
Decision-Making Under Stress
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
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•
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•
Work Capacity Tests
Nutrition
Injury Analysis
Work Hardening
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
Health & Fitness-Based
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•
Work Capacity Tests
Nutrition
Injury Analysis
Work Hardening
Work/Rest/Fatigue
Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA
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
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•
•
•
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…..