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International Journal of Wildland Fire

International Journal of Wildland Fire

International Journal of Wildland Fire publishes articles on basic and applied aspects of wildland fire science including, but not confined to, ecological impact, modelling fire and its effects, and management of fire. Read more about the journalMore

Editors-in-Chief: Susan G. Conard, Stefan Doerr and Martin Girardin

Publishing Model: Open Access

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. International Journal of Wildland Fire is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 20 February 2025

WF24040Enhancing fire emissions inventories for acute health effects studies: integrating high spatial and temporal resolution data

Sam D. Faulstich 0000-0002-4445-9660, Matthew J. Strickland and Heather A. Holmes
 

This study improves fire emissions inventories (FEIs) by combining high spatial and temporal resolution burned area information and accounts for missing data caused by cloud cover. This dataset provides daily fire emissions information that can be used to estimate human exposure in acute health effects studies.

WF24040 Abstract  |  WF24040 Full Text  | WF24040PDF (1.9 MB)  | WF24040Supplementary Material (173 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 20 February 2025

WF24057Using hydrological modelling to improve the Fire Weather Index system over tropical peatlands of peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo

J. Mortelmans 0000-0003-1523-2851, S. Apers 0000-0002-5566-4950, G. J. M. De Lannoy, S. Veraverbeke, R. D. Field, N. Andela, S. E. Page and M. Bechtold 0000-0002-8042-9792
 

Global wildfires necessitate accurate risk assessments. The Canadian Fire Weather Index (FWI) is a renowned system used to assess fire danger. Its effectiveness in peatlands, however, is limited. Prior research hints at improved FWI accuracy with inclusion of groundwater data. Our study validates this for tropical southeast Asian peatlands.

WF24057 Abstract  |  WF24057 Full Text  | WF24057PDF (1.8 MB)  | WF24057Supplementary Material (1.6 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 20 February 2025

WF23163Characterising spatial clusters of forest fire activity in the Western Himalayan region of India: implications for conservation and management

Shanti Kumari, Shailja Mamgain, Arijit Roy and H. C. Prince
 

This study highlights spatial clusters of forest fires in the Western Himalayan region, India, based on long-term spatial and temporal patterns of forest fire and related environmental variables. High forest fire severity is observed in years having warm and dry winters that result in loss of fuel and soil moisture.

WF23163 Abstract  |  WF23163 Full Text  | WF23163PDF (3 MB)  | WF23163Supplementary Material (1.6 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 19 February 2025

WF24011Effect of fire severity and presence of bamboo (Chusquea culeou) on soil chemical properties in Andean Patagonian forests of Argentina

M. Florencia Urretavizcaya, M. Melisa Rago, Marina Caselli, Fernanda Ríos Campano, Stefano Gianolini and Virginia Alonso
 

Following a fire event, soil pH, organic matter, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, carbon–nitrogen ratio, and cation exchange capacity are changed by fire severity in Patagonia, Argentina. Regardless of fire, soil properties depend on forest type and presence of bamboo (Chusquea culeou). This information can be used for forest management and restoration.

WF24011 Abstract  |  WF24011 Full Text  | WF24011PDF (5 MB)  | WF24011Supplementary Material (650 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 14 February 2025

WF24093The potential of using magnetic susceptibility to identify past wildfires in Australia

Annika V. Herbert 0000-0001-9322-043X
 

Australia’s wildfire frequency is currently estimated using incomplete data, which may be possible to rectify using magnetic susceptibility readings in combination with charcoal records. This review paper explores the potential of using magnetic susceptibility to identify past fire events in Australia.

WF24093 Abstract  |  WF24093 Full Text  | WF24093PDF (1.2 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 13 February 2025

WF24046Climate drying reduces serotinous seedbanks and threatens persistence in two fire-killed shrubs

N. J. Enright and M. C. Agne
 

Time to 50% maturity was 9–12 years longer and seed stores 50–90% lower in 2017 than in the 1990s for populations of two fire-killed serotinous species (Hakea decurrens and Banksia ornata) in south-east Australian woodlands/shrublands. Decreasing rainfall with climate change may already be threatening the persistence of these, and similar, species.

WF24046 Abstract  |  WF24046 Full Text  | WF24046PDF (1.8 MB)  | WF24046Supplementary Material (570 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 05 February 2025

WF24096Short-term impacts of operational fuel treatments on modelled fire behaviour and effects in seasonally dry forests of British Columbia, Canada

Kea H. Rutherford 0009-0000-8321-8133, Bianca N. I. Eskelson, Lori D. Daniels, Valerie LeMay, Gregory A. Greene and Robert W. Gray
 

We modelled fire behaviour and effects before and after operational fuel treatments in seasonally dry forests of British Columbia, Canada. Low- and high-intensity thinning reduced potential of passive and active crown fire, respectively. Pruning had little added benefit to thinning. Chipping or pile burning of residue fuel mitigated potential fire behaviour.

WF24096 Abstract  |  WF24096 Full Text  | WF24096PDF (3.9 MB)  | WF24096Supplementary Material (536 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 30 January 2025

WF24113Sub-hourly forecasting of fire potential using machine learning on time series of surface weather variables

Alberto Ardid, Andres Valencia, Anthony Power, Matthias M. Boer, Marwan Katurji, Shana Gross and David Dempsey
 

This study introduces a machine learning model to forecast fire potential using weather data from the Sunshine Coast, Australia. The model, which updates every 30 min, significantly improves fire prediction accuracy, helping to provide timely warnings and enhance fire management strategies.

WF24113 Abstract  |  WF24113 Full Text  | WF24113PDF (2.9 MB)  | WF24113Supplementary Material (1.5 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 25 January 2025

WF24016Understanding rural adaptation to smoke from wildfires and forest management: insights for aligning approaches with community contexts

Catrin M. Edgeley and Jack T. Burnett
 

Rural communities are increasingly impacted by smoke from wildfire and forest management. We conducted 46 semi-structured interviews with 56 residents and professionals in Parks, Arizona, USA, to determine the role of local social context in rural smoke adaptation and gauge interest in adaptation strategies that reduce exposure.

WF24016 Abstract  |  WF24016 Full Text  | WF24016PDF (800 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 23 January 2025

WF24161Assessing wildland fire suppression effectiveness with infrared imaging on experimental fires

Melanie Wheatley, Joshua M. Johnston, B. Mike Wotton, Douglas G. Woolford and David L. Martell
 

We suppressed a series of small-scale burns while actively monitoring fire behaviour with overhead infrared imagery to quantify the impact of suppression on fire behaviour and energy released from flaming fires. Infrared imaging can capture the changes in energy released from a fire due to known aspects of water application.

WF24161 Abstract  |  WF24161 Full Text  | WF24161PDF (2.7 MB)  | WF24161Supplementary Material (617 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 23 January 2025

WF24027An offline coupling of fire spread models to simulate the 2021 Marshall Fire

Fernando Szasdi-Bardales 0000-0002-9643-5919, Kasra Shamsaei 0000-0003-3396-7683, Timothy W. Juliano, Branko Kosovic, Hamed Ebrahimian 0000-0003-1992-6033 and Negar Elhami-Khorasani
 

Map showing vegetation, built structures, impact of fire and fire perimeter for the 2021 Marshall Fire

Predictive models for wildfire spread can provide valuable information for risk mitigation. Current models focus only on wildland or community simulations. This paper integrates two models to simulate the 2021 Marshall Fire. The most accurate results are obtained using a high-resolution wind input and when incorporating different building types.

WF24027 Abstract  |  WF24027 Full Text  | WF24027PDF (9.9 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 23 January 2025

WF24164The Duff Moisture Code and the limits of sustainable combustion: examining the evidence for a widely used threshold

Mike Wotton and Melanie Wheatley
 

A Duff Moisture Code value of 20 is operationally used to indicate the threshold below which lightning fires will not ignite and duff consumption will not occur. Through an analysis of historical lightning and fire data across Canada, we do not find strong evidence to support this threshold.

WF24164 Abstract  |  WF24164 Full Text  | WF24164PDF (1.9 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 22 January 2025

WF24117Simplifying emissions modelling from wildland fires: laboratory-scale emission factors are independent of fine woody debris fuel load

Élise-Andrée Guérette 0000-0002-8774-7179, Clare Paton-Walsh 0000-0003-1156-4138, Maximilien Desservettaz, Fabienne Reisen, Nicholas C. Surawski, C. P. (Mick) Meyer, Christopher T. Roulston 0000-0003-1888-4206, Andrew Sullivan 0000-0002-8038-8724, Christopher J. Weston and Liubov Volkova 0000-0002-4556-3478
 

Emissions of most pollutants from laboratory-based experimental wildland fires are shown to be independent of the fraction of fine woody debris in the fuel load and to closely track the emissions of carbon monoxide in time, thereby simplifying modelling. Approximately half the emissions occur during the flaming stage of combustion.

WF24117 Abstract  |  WF24117 Full Text  | WF24117PDF (1.8 MB)  | WF24117Supplementary Material (956 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 16 January 2025

WF24114Towards a wildfire vulnerability index using expert judgement

M. Papathoma-Köhle 0000-0002-7878-1340, D. Hausharter, M. Schlögl 0000-0002-4357-523X and S. Fuchs
 

This paper describes a wildfire vulnerability index for buildings in Austria based on the characteristics of buildings and their surroundings, expert judgement and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The results can be used for emergency management and disaster risk reduction strategies in the wildland–urban interface.

WF24114 Abstract  |  WF24114 Full Text  | WF24114PDF (3 MB)  | WF24114Supplementary Material (1.1 MB)   Open Access Article

Just Accepted

These articles have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. They are still in production and have not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

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  7. Methods to assess fire-induced tree mortality: review of fire behaviour proxy and real fire experiments

    International Journal of Wildland Fire 34 (1)
    Alistair M. S. Smith, Raquel Partelli-Feltrin 0000-0002-5076-8515, Aaron M. Sparks, James G. Moberly, Henry D. Adams, Dylan W. Schwilk, Wade T. Tinkham 0000-0002-4668-7624, John R. Kok, David R. Wilson, Alex Thompson, Andrew T. Hudak, Chad M. Hoffman, James A. Lutz, Alexander S. Blanco, Mark A. Cochrane, Robert L. Kremens, Joseph Dahlen, Grant L. Harley, Scott W. Rainsford, Li Huang, Douglas D. Hardman, Luigi Boschetti, Daniel M. Johnson

Collections

Collections are a curation of articles relevant to a topical research area

Savanna Burning

As demonstrated in Australian savannas, reducing carbon emissions through active fire management can generate tradable carbon credits providing income and employment opportunities for Indigenous and remote communities, and support biodiversity conservation. The success of this management approach has led to suggestions that it can be extended to other continents, for notable example in southern Africa and South America. This special issue of the International Journal of Wildland Fire aims to explore the status of technical challenges, opportunities and potential livelihood and ecological benefits, associated with applying market-based fire management approaches in severely fire-impacted tropical savanna systems.

Last Updated: 15 Jan 2025

Fire and Climate

This Special Collection on “Fire and Climate” showcases papers from and inspired by the eponymous conferences hosted by the International Association of Wildland Fire. The collection explores the way that climate change is affecting wildfire around the world – and the ways that changes in societal, legal, and political climate changes interact with these geophysical processes.

Guest Editor
Eric B. Kenedy (York University, Canada)

Last Updated: 15 Oct 2024

Australian Fire Danger Rating System

This Collection in International Journal of Wildland Fire presents a series of papers that describe the development of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS). This new system was conceived following a review of existing Australian fire danger rating systems and associated danger categories in 2014. It was implemented in 2022 and has since been modified to improve performance, accuracy, and public-facing requirements.

Guest Editor
Paulo Fernandez (Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal)

Last Updated: 04 Jul 2024

Celebrating 30 Years of Wildland Fire Science Publication

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of International Journal of Wildland Fire (IJWF), the official journal of the International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF), we have put together this Collection that includes a selection of review papers published in IJWF over the past 12 years, a compilation that highlights the wide range of disciplines in wildland fire research. In line with our commitment to diversity, authors and co-authors come from at least seven countries, and the corresponding authors on six of the 15 papers are female. We invite you to explore the full breadth of topics included in this Collection.

Collection Editors
Susan G. Conard, Stefan Doerr, and Jenny Foster

Last Updated: 27 May 2021

25 Years of International Journal of Wildland Fire

To celebrate 25 years of publication of International Journal of Wildland Fire, we present this Collection that includes some of the most-cited Research Papers we have published over the years. This Collection includes two papers from each five-year period, starting in 1991. One of these is the paper from each period that has received the most citations to date. To highlight the geographic scope of IJWF publications, the second paper is the most-cited paper where the lead author is from a different country than the highest-cited one.

Last Updated: 05 Dec 2016

Atmospheric Research

This Collection of International Journal of Wildland Fire covers the theme of Atmospheric Research, and was launched to coincide with the 2016 International Smoke Symposium (Long Beach, California) and the AGU Fall Meeting (San Francisco, California). This collection showcases a diverse array of topics from a variety of geographical areas, including methods for tracking, modelling and inventory, social implications, climate implications, current and future research needs, and practical field management techniques for smoke.

Last Updated: 27 Oct 2016

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IJWF Content Free to IAWF Members

All non-OA journal content published prior to 2024 can be accessed by IAWF members through the IAWF Members-Only site.

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