Validation of behave fire behavior predictions in oak savannas
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Abstract
Prescribed fire is a valuable tool in the restoration and management of oak savannas. BEHAVE, a fire behavior prediction system developed by the United States Forest Service, can be a useful tool when managing oak savannas with prescribed fire. BEHAVE predictions of fire rate-of-spread and flame length were validated using four standardized fuel models: Fuel Model 1 (short grass), Fuel Model 2 (timber and grass), Fuel Model 3 (tall grass), and Fuel Model 9 (hardwood litter). Also, a customized oak savanna fuel model (COSFM) was created and validated. Results indicate that standardized fuel model 2 and the COSFM reliably estimate mean rate-of-spread (MROS). The COSFM did not appreciably reduce MROS variation when compared to fuel model 2. Fuel models 1, 3, and 9 did not reliably predict MROS. Neither the standardized fuel models nor the COSFM adequately predicted flame lengths. We concluded that standardized fuel model 2 should be used with BEHAVE when predicting fire rates-of-spread in established oak savannas.
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Federal Government Series |
| Title | Validation of behave fire behavior predictions in oak savannas |
| Series title | General Technical Report |
| Series number | NC-188 |
| Year Published | 1997 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station |
| Publisher location | St. Paul, MN |
| Contributing office(s) | Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 14 p. |
| First page | 202 |
| Last page | 215 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |