Rocky Mountain Research Station Publications
RMRS Online Publication - Journal
Articles, External Publications, and Special Reports
Estimating canopy fuels in conifer forests
Scott, Joe H.; Reinhardt, Elizabeth D. 2002. Estimating canopy fuels in conifer forests. Fire Management Today. 62(4): 45-50.
Crown fires occur in a variety of coniferous forest types (Agee 1993), including some that are not historically prone to crown fire, such as ponderosa pine (Mutch and others 1993). The head fire spread rate of a crown fire is usually several times faster than that of a surface fire burning under the same conditions, which leads to a significant increase in the number of acres burned during a given period. In addition, crown fires cause more severe and lasting damage than do surface fires. Consequently, predicting the behavior and effects of crown fire, determining the susceptibility of stands to crown fire, and designing treatments to mitigate the potential damage from crown fires are priorities for fire managers.
Keywords: canopy fuels, conifer forests, crown fire, ponderosa pine
About PDFs: For best results, do not open the PDF in your Web browser. Right-click on the PDF link to download the PDF file directly to your computer. Click here for more PDF help.
PDF File Size: 340 K
Title: RMRS Other
Publications: Estimating canopy fuels in conifer forests
Electronic Publish Date: November 26, 2007
Last Update: November 26, 2007
RMRS Publications | Order a publication | Contact Us