A case-study of wildland fire management knowledge exchange: the barriers and facilitators in the development and integration of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System in Ontario, Canada
Colin B. McFayden A * , Colleen George B , Lynn M. Johnston C , Mike Wotton C D , Daniel Johnston E , Meghan Sloane C and Joshua M. Johnston C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services, Dryden Fire Management Centre, 95 Ghost Lake Road, P.O. Box 850, Dryden, ON P8N 2Z5, Canada.
B Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Science and Research Branch, Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, 103-421 James Street South, Thunder Bay, ON, P7E 2V6, Canada.
C Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, 1219 Queen Street E., Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2E5, Canada.
D Graduate Department of Forestry, John. H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks, Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B3, Canada.
E Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Aviation Forest Fire and Emergency Services, 400–70 Foster Drive, Sault Ste Marie, ON P6A 6V5, Canada.
* Correspondence to: colin.mcfayden@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
International Journal of Wildland Fire 31(9) 835-846 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF22015
Submitted: 23 February 2022 Accepted: 21 July 2022 Published: 25 August 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of IAWF. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
Background: Among the most successful examples of Knowledge Exchange (KE) between researchers and practitioners in Canadian wildland fire management is the development and integration of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS) into operational use.
Aims: Our aim was to identify key factors for this success.
Methods: Through a case study, we investigated historical KE of two CFFDRS components in Ontario, Canada. We held semi-structured interviews with principal Canadian Forest Service researchers and Ontario fire management practitioners active in development and implementation of CFFDRS from the late 1960s to 2010s.
Key results: The importance of both formal and informal facilitators to support KE was emphasised.
Conclusion: Participants were most likely to associate successful implementation with informal facilitators such as personal relationships, shared field-based experiences, and opportunities for dialogue between researchers and practitioners. Critical to success were the credibility and soft skills of the knowledge brokers, early engagement, and consideration of training needs for end users in the design of products.
Implications: This identification of factors that facilitated or hindered the development and implementation of CFFDRS can enhance the impact of research that will help wildland fire management deal with its present and future challenges.
Keywords: collaboration, fire behaviour, fire danger, forest fire, innovation, technology transfer, wildfire.
References
Azungah T (2018) Qualitative research: deductive and inductive approaches to data analysis. Qualitative Research Journal 18, 383–400.| Qualitative research: deductive and inductive approaches to data analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beall HW (1948) ‘Forest fire danger tables (provisional)’, 2nd edn revised. Research Note 12. 73 p. (Canadian Department Mines & Resources, Dominion Forest Service, Forest Fire)
Bowman DM, Kolden CA, Abatzoglou JT, Johnston FH, van der Werf GR, Flannigan M (2020) Vegetation fires in the Anthropocene. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment 1, 500–515.
| Vegetation fires in the Anthropocene.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brummel RF, Nelson KC, Souter SG, Jakes PJ, Williams DR (2010) Social learning in a policy-mandated collaboration: community wildfire protection planning in the eastern United States. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 53, 681–699.
| Social learning in a policy-mandated collaboration: community wildfire protection planning in the eastern United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (2016) ‘Canadian wildland fire strategy. A 10-year review and renewed call to action’. 15 p. (Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, Ottawa Ontario)
Canadian Department of Northern Affairs and Natural Resources Forestry Branch (1957) ‘Forest fire danger tables – Ontario, 1956’. 16 p. (Government of Canada, Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources, Forestry Branch: Ottawa, Ontario) Available at https://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=26089
Canadian Forest Service Fire Danger Group (2021) The Vision for the Next Generation of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System. In ‘Great Lakes Forestry Centre Information Report GLC-X-26’. 70 p. (Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service) Available at https://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=40474
Canadian Forestry Service (1984) ‘Tables for the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System’. Forestry Technical Report 25 (4th edn). (Environment Canada, Canadian Forest Service) Available at https://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=31168
Coogan SCP, Robinne F-N, Jain P, Flannigan MD (2019) Scientists’ warning on wildfire—a Canadian perspective. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 49, 1015–1023.
| Scientists’ warning on wildfire—a Canadian perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Creswell DW, Creswell JD (2018) ‘Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches’, 5th edn. (Sage Publications)
Damanpour F, Gopalakrishnan S (1998) Theories of organizational structure and innovation adoption: the role of environmental change. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management 15, 1–24.
| Theories of organizational structure and innovation adoption: the role of environmental change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Davis EJ, Moseley C, Olsen C, Abrams J, Creighton J (2013) Diversity and dynamism of fire science user needs. Journal of Forestry 111, 101–107.
| Diversity and dynamism of fire science user needs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Deeming JE, Lancaster JW, Fosberg MA, Furman RW, Schroeder P (1972) National fire-danger-rating system. In ‘Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station Research Paper RM-84’. (USDA Forest Service: Fort Collins, CO)
D’Eon S, MacAfee K (2016) Knowledge exchange in the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre: national scope with regional delivery. The Forestry Chronicle 92, 441–446.
| Knowledge exchange in the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre: national scope with regional delivery.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Devaraj S, Easley RF, Crant JM (2008) Research note—how does personality matter? Relating the five-factor model to technology acceptance and use. Information Systems Research 19, 93–105.
| Research note—how does personality matter? Relating the five-factor model to technology acceptance and use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Forestry Canada Fire Danger Group (1992) Development and structure of the Canadian forest fire behavior prediction system. In ‘Report ST-X-3’. (Ottawa Ontario, Forestry Canada, Science and Sustainable Development Directorate) Available at https://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=10068
Given LM (2008) ‘The SAGE encyclopedia of qualitative research methods (Vols. 1-0).’ (SAGE Publications, Inc.: Thousand Oaks, CA)
| Crossref |.
Government of Canada (2022) Interdepartmental Memorandum of Understanding for the WildFireSat Project. Government of Canada, Canadian Space Agency. (St Hubert, QC)
Graham ID, Logan J, Harrison MB, Straus SE, Tetroe J, Caswell W, Robinson N (2006) Lost in knowledge translation: time for a map. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions 26, 13–24.
| Lost in knowledge translation: time for a map.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hirsch KG, Martell DL (1996) A review of initial attack fire crew productivity and effectiveness. International Journal of Wildland Fire 6, 199–215.
| A review of initial attack fire crew productivity and effectiveness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hunter ME, Colavito MM, Wright V (2020) The Use of Science in Wildland Fire Management: a Review of Barriers and Facilitators. Current Forestry Reports 6, 354–367.
| The Use of Science in Wildland Fire Management: a Review of Barriers and Facilitators.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jackson N, Johnston JM (2020) WildFireSat: Mission Requirements Document. Canadian Space Agency, Document Number CSA-WFS-RD-0002. (St Hubert, QC)
Johnston JM, Jackson N, McFayden C, Ngo Phong L, Lawrence B, Davignon D, Wooster MJ, van Mierlo H, Thompson DK, Cantin AS, Johnston D, Johnston LM, Sloane M, Ramos R, Lynham TJ (2020) Development of the user requirements for the Canadian WildFireSat Satellite Mission. Sensors 20, 5081
| Development of the user requirements for the Canadian WildFireSat Satellite Mission.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Joshi A, Kale S, Chandel S, Pal DK (2015) Likert scale: Explored and explained. British Journal of Applied Science & Technology 7, 396–403.
| Likert scale: Explored and explained.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Martell D (2011) The development and implementation of forest and wildland fire management decision support systems: reflections on past practices and emerging needs and challenges. Mathematical and Computational Forestry & Natural Resource Sciences 3, 18–26.
McArthur AG (1966) ‘Weather and grassland fire behaviour.’ (Commonwealth of Australia Forest and Timber Bureau: Leaflet 100, Canberra, ACT)
McArthur AG (1967) ‘Fire behaviour in eucalypt forest.’ (Commonwealth of Australia Forest and Timber Bureau: Leaflet 107, Canberra, ACT)
McFayden CB, Woolford DG, Stacey A, Boychuk D, Johnston JM, Wheatley MJ, Martell DL (2019) Risk assessment for wildland fire aerial detection patrol route planning in Ontario, Canada. International Journal of Wildland Fire 29, 28–41.
| Risk assessment for wildland fire aerial detection patrol route planning in Ontario, Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McFayden CB, Johnston LM, Woolford DG, George C, Johnston D, Boychuk D, Wotton BM, Johnston JM (in press). A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Exchange in a Wildland Fire Research and Practice Context. In ‘Applied Data Science: Data Translators Across the Disciplines’. (Eds D Woolford, D Kotsopoulos, B Samuels) (Springer, Interdisciplinary Applied Sciences)
McGee TK, Curtis A, McFarlane BL, Shindler B, Christianson A, Olsen C, McCaffrey S (2016) Facilitating knowledge transfer between researchers and wildfire practitioners about trust: An international case study. The Forestry Chronicle 92, 167–171.
| Facilitating knowledge transfer between researchers and wildfire practitioners about trust: An international case study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mitton C, Adair CE, Mckenzie E, Patten SB, Perry BW (2007) Knowledge Transfer and Exchange: Review and Synthesis of the Literature: Knowledge Transfer and Exchange. Milbank Quarterly 85, 729–768.
| Knowledge Transfer and Exchange: Review and Synthesis of the Literature: Knowledge Transfer and Exchange.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Muraro SJ (1968) A modular approach to a revised national fire danger rating system. In ‘Contributions to the development of a national fire danger rating system’. Information Report BC-X-37. (Canadian Forest Service, Victoria, BC) Available at https://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=27977
Nguyen VM, Bell C, Berseth V, Cvitanovic C, Darwent R, Falconer M, Hutchen J, Kapoor T, Klenk N, Young N (2021) Promises and pitfalls of digital knowledge exchange resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Socio-Ecological Practice Research 3, 427–439.
| Promises and pitfalls of digital knowledge exchange resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Noble P, Paveglio TB (2020) Exploring adoption of the wildland fire decision support system: End user perspectives. Journal of Forestry 118, 154–171.
| Exploring adoption of the wildland fire decision support system: End user perspectives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nutley SM, Walter I, Davies HT (2007) ‘Using evidence: How research can inform public services.’ (Policy Press)
Rapp C, Rabung E, Wilson R, Toman E (2020) Wildfire decision support tools: An exploratory study of use in the United States. International Journal of Wildland Fire 29, 581–594.
| Wildfire decision support tools: An exploratory study of use in the United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reed MS, Stringer LC, Fazey I, Evely AC, Kruijsen JHJ (2014) Five principles for the practice of knowledge exchange in environmental management. Journal of Environmental Management 146, 337–345.
| Five principles for the practice of knowledge exchange in environmental management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roux DJ, Rogers KH, Biggs HC, Ashton PJ, Sergeant A (2006) Bridging the science–management divide: moving from unidirectional knowledge transfer to knowledge interfacing and sharing. Ecology and Society 11, 4
| Bridging the science–management divide: moving from unidirectional knowledge transfer to knowledge interfacing and sharing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ryan CM, Cerveny LK (2011) Wildland fire science for management: Federal fire manager information needs, sources, and uses. Western Journal of Applied Forestry 26, 126–132.
| Wildland fire science for management: Federal fire manager information needs, sources, and uses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sankey S (2018) ‘Blueprint for wildland fire science in Canada (2019-2029).’ (Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre) Available at http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=39429
Taylor SW, Alexander ME (2006) Science, technology, and human factors in fire danger rating: the Canadian experience. International Journal of Wildland Fire 15, 121–135.
| Science, technology, and human factors in fire danger rating: the Canadian experience.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taylor SW, Pike RG, Alexander ME (1996) ‘Field guide to the Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) System’, 1st edn. (Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria British Columbia, FRDA Handbook 012, co-published by the BC Ministry of Forests)
Tedim F, McCaffrey S, Leone V, Vazquez-Varela C, Depietri Y, Buergelt P, Lovreglio R (2021) Supporting a shift in wildfire management from fighting fires to thriving with fires: The need for translational wildfire science. Forest Policy and Economics 131, 102565
| Supporting a shift in wildfire management from fighting fires to thriving with fires: The need for translational wildfire science.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomas D, Fox R, Miller C (2015) Voices from the field: Wildland fire managers and high-reliability organizing mindfulness. Society & Natural Resources 28, 825–838.
| Voices from the field: Wildland fire managers and high-reliability organizing mindfulness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tymstra C, Stocks BJ, Cai X, Flannigan MD (2020) Wildfire management in Canada: Review, challenges and opportunities. Progress in Disaster Science 5, 100045
| Wildfire management in Canada: Review, challenges and opportunities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Van Wagner CE (1974) ‘Structure of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index.’ (Environment Canada, Canadian Forestry Service, Petawawa Forest Experiment Station, Chalk River Ontario Departmental Publication 1333) Available at https://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=24864
Van Wagner CE (1987) Development and structure of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System. In ‘Forestry Technical Report 35’. 35 p. (Canadian Forestry Service, Headquarters: Ottawa)
Walsh JC, Dicks LV, Raymond CM, Sutherland WJ (2019) A typology of barriers and enablers of scientific evidence use in conservation practice. Journal of Environmental Management 250, 109481
| A typology of barriers and enablers of scientific evidence use in conservation practice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Woolford DG, Martell DL, McFayden CB, Evens J, Stacey A, Wotton BM, Boychuk D (2021) The development and implementation of a human-caused wildland fire occurrence prediction system for the province of Ontario, Canada. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 51, 303–325.
| The development and implementation of a human-caused wildland fire occurrence prediction system for the province of Ontario, Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wotton BM, Martell DL (2005) A lightning fire occurrence model for Ontario. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 35, 1389–1401.
| A lightning fire occurrence model for Ontario.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wright JG (1933) ‘Forest fire hazard tables for mixed red and white pine forests, eastern Ontario and western Quebec regions.’ (Canada Department of the Interior, Dominion Forest Service: Ottawa, Ontario) Available at https://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/publications?id=36177
Wright JG, Beall HW (1938) Preliminary improved forest fire hazard tables for eastern Canada. In ‘Forest Fire Research Note 5’. 42 p. (Canadian Department Mines & Resources, Dominion Forest Service)
