Development of a laboratory protocol for fire performance of landscape plants
Matthew G. Etlinger A and Frank C. Beall A BA University of California Forest Products Laboratory, 1301 South 46th Street, Richmond, CA 94804, USA.
B Corresponding author. Telephone: +1 510 231 9564; fax: +1 510 231 9427; email: frank.beall@nature.berkeley.edu
International Journal of Wildland Fire 13(4) 479-488 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF04039
Submitted: 24 August 2004 Accepted: 4 October 2004 Published: 15 December 2004
Abstract
Over 2.5 million people and 1 million structures risk destruction from wildland fires in California. One way to mitigate this risk is the manipulation and/or selection of landscape vegetation. In this study, six species were studied for their intrinsic characteristics and tested with a newly-developed laboratory fire protocol at 150 kW to determine heat release rate (HRR). The plants were 2–3 years old and obtained from a local nursery. Whole plants were subjected to desiccation in a dry kiln at 50°C, which was found to be much more effective than simulating fire weather in a greenhouse. This is apparently the first study that has measured plant variables, burned them in a natural vertical position, and related HRR to the plant characteristics. Multiple regression showed the overwhelming importance of foliage and moisture content to peak HRR. Chemical variables were not significant and high moisture contents were found to obscure other plant characteristics.
Bilbao R, Mastral JF, Ceamanos J , Aldea ME (1996) Modeling of the pyrolysis of wet wood. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 36, 81–97.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Martin LB , Juhren M (1954) Cistus and its response to fire. Lasca Leaves 4, 65–67.
Shafizadeh F, Chin P, De PPS , Groot WF (1977) Effective heat content of green forest fuels. Forest Science 23, 81–89.
van Wilgen BW, Higgins KB , Bellstedt DU (1990) The role of vegetation structure and fuel chemistry in excluding fire from forest patches in the fire-prone fynbos shrublands of South Africa. Journal of Ecology 78, 210–222.
