An analysis of fatalities from forest fires in China, 1951–2018
Xuezheng Zong A B C , Xiaorui Tian C * , Qichao Yao D and Peter M. Brown E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
B University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
C Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100091, China.
D Wildfire Research Center, National Institute of Natural Hazards, Beijing 100085, China.
E Rocky Mountain Tree-Ring Research, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA.
* Correspondence to: tianxr@caf.ac.cn
International Journal of Wildland Fire 31(5) 507-517 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF21137
Submitted: 11 October 2021 Accepted: 3 March 2022 Published: 4 April 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
The frequent occurrence of fatalities from wildfires is an ongoing problem in China, even though great improvements have been achieved in overall wildfire management in recent years. We analysed the occurrence patterns and correlative environments of fatalities from forest fires in China from 1951 to 2018. Changes in fire policies affected changes in the numbers of fires, forest area burned and number of fatalities before and after 1987, after the large Great Black Dragon Fire that burned in the Daxing’anling Mountains in northeastern China. Most fatalities occurred in the southern, southwestern and eastern forest regions of the country where population centres are concentrated, while most of the burned area was distributed in forests of northeast China with fewer population centres. Fatalities were correlated with higher values of fire weather indices, coniferous forests, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests, moderate–average slopes (5.1–15°), and primarily small fires of less than 100 ha in area. These results should be a first step to help improve awareness of inherent dangers during wildfires and to assist fire managers and policy-makers in strengthening safety procedures for both professional firefighters and the public to reduce wildfire fatalities in the future.
Keywords: China, fire environment, fire frequency, fire management, fire size, fire suppression, forest fire fatalities, forest fire.
References
AghaKouchak A, Huning LS, Chiang F, Sadegh M, Vahedifard F, Mazdiyasni O, Moftakhari H, Mallakpour I (2018) How do natural hazards cascade to cause disasters? Nature 561, 458–460.| How do natural hazards cascade to cause disasters?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 30250152PubMed |
Alexander ME (2010) ‘Lest we forget’: Canada’s major wildland fire disasters of the past, 1825-1938. In ‘Proceedings of 3rd Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference, Spokane, Washington’. (Ed. Dale D Wade) pp. 25–29. (International Association of Wildland Fire: Birmingham, AL)
Blanchi R, Leonard J, Haynes K, Opie K, James M, de Oliveira FD (2014) Environmental circumstances surrounding bushfire fatalities in Australia 1901–2011. Environmental Science & Policy 37, 192–203.
| Environmental circumstances surrounding bushfire fatalities in Australia 1901–2011.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bowman DMJS, 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 |
Britton C, Lynch CF, Torner J, Peek-Asa C (2013) Fire characteristics associated with firefighter injury on large federal wildland fires. Annals of Epidemiology 23, 37–42.
| Fire characteristics associated with firefighter injury on large federal wildland fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23212031PubMed |
Butler C, Marsh S, Domitrovich JW, Helmkamp J (2017) Wildland firefighter deaths in the United States: A comparison of existing surveillance systems. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 14, 258–270.
| Wildland firefighter deaths in the United States: A comparison of existing surveillance systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27754819PubMed |
Cal Fire (2019) Incident information [online]. Available at https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2019 [Verified 9 May 2021]
Cardil A, Delogu GM, Molina-Terrén DM (2017) Fatalities in wildland fires from 1945 to 2015 in Sardinia (Italy). Cerne 23, 175–184.
| Fatalities in wildland fires from 1945 to 2015 in Sardinia (Italy).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Coogan SCP, Robinne FN, 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 |
Crompton RP, McAneney KJ, Chen K, Pielke RA, Haynes K (2010) Influence of location, population, and climate on building damage and fatalities due to Australian bushfire: 1925–2009. Weather, Climate, and Society 2, 300–310.
| Influence of location, population, and climate on building damage and fatalities due to Australian bushfire: 1925–2009.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
De Ronde C (2002) ‘Wildland fire-related fatalities in South Africa – a 1994 case study and looking back at the year 2001. Forest Fire Research and Wildland Fire Safety (Ed. DX Viegas) CD-ROM. (Millpress: Rotterdam The Netherlands)
Diakakis M, Xanthopoulos G, Gregos L (2016) Analysis of forest fire fatalities in Greece: 1977–2013. International Journal of Wildland Fire 25, 797–809.
| Analysis of forest fire fatalities in Greece: 1977–2013.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Du J, Gong Y, Jiang L (2019) Study on the characteristics of forest fires in China and their relationship with major climatic factors. Forest Resources Management 2, 7–14.
| Study on the characteristics of forest fires in China and their relationship with major climatic factors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fayard GM (2009) Fatal work injuries involving natural disasters, 1992-2006. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness 3, 201–209.
| Fatal work injuries involving natural disasters, 1992-2006.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20081416PubMed |
Han H, Yao S (2012) Analysis the causation and countermeasure of the accident caused by forest fire. The Journal of Hebei Forestry Science and Technology 6, 51–53. Available at https://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/detail.aspx?dbcode=CJFD&dbname=CJFD2012&filename=HBLK201206021&v=wllpxHztdn1EHTGu5IYCWkFGmCzjh3JmCtbXEW7dS7d14RTH2PZ2Rp0axzVfwF1l
Hayes JP (2021) Fire suppression and the wildfire paradox in contemporary China: policies, resilience, and effects in Chinese fire regimes. Human Ecology 49, 1–14.
| Fire suppression and the wildfire paradox in contemporary China: policies, resilience, and effects in Chinese fire regimes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haynes K, Handmer J, McAneney J, Tibbits A, Coates L (2010) Australian bushfire fatalities 1900–2008: exploring trends in relation to the ‘Prepare, stay and defend or leave early’ policy. Environmental Science & Policy 13, 185–194.
| Australian bushfire fatalities 1900–2008: exploring trends in relation to the ‘Prepare, stay and defend or leave early’ policy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jiang H, Xu Y, Wen D (2012) Study on the cases of forest fire fatalities in Hunan province. Forest Fire Prevention 2, 46–48. Available at https://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/detail.aspx?dbcode=CJFD&dbname=CJFD2012&filename=SLFH201202017&v=bG2n87V3nDaq% 25mmd2FrthCilA% 25mmd2Fiq61nZSax7Me2lGn7hj9wrCQDGni% 25mmd2FM1Pfv09wAYhHSm
Liu C (2015) Study on the characteristics of forest fire casualities between China and America. Doctoral dissertation, Northeast Forestry University. Available at https://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/detail.aspx?dbcode=CMFD&dbname=CMFD201601&filename=1015655753.nh&v=fMCsxmiJir5sINVPow5nasMAvvAft5% 25mmd2Bj2UexIgExqweRj7ucpSMkTURFq3p4Zume
Liu Y, Tang K (1987) On classification of slope steepness at home and abroad and its composition in wangdong experiment area of Changwu County Shaanxi Province. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation 3, 59–65.
| On classification of slope steepness at home and abroad and its composition in wangdong experiment area of Changwu County Shaanxi Province.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ma ZL, Song CS, Zhang QH (1997) ‘Changes in China’s forests.’ (China Forestry Publishing House: Beijing)
Mangan R (1999) Wildland fire fatalities in the United States 1990 to 1998. USDA Forest Service. Available at https://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/htmlpubs/htm99512808/
Molina-Terrén DM, Xanthopoulos G, Diakakis M, Ribeiro L, Caballero D, Delogu GM, Viegas DX, Silva CA, Cardil A (2019) Analysis of forest fire fatalities in southern Europe: Spain, Portugal, Greece and Sardinia (Italy). International Journal of Wildland Fire 28, 85–98.
| Analysis of forest fire fatalities in southern Europe: Spain, Portugal, Greece and Sardinia (Italy).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moore PF (2019) Global wildland fire management research needs. Current Forestry Reports 5, 210–225.
| Global wildland fire management research needs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Munawar HS, Ullah F, Khan SI, Qadir Z, Qayyum S (2021) UAV assisted spatiotemporal analysis and management of bushfires: a case study of the 2020 Victorian Bushfires. Fire 4, 40
| UAV assisted spatiotemporal analysis and management of bushfires: a case study of the 2020 Victorian Bushfires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
National Forestry and Grassland Administration (2014) ‘Report on Forest Resources in China (2009-2013).’ (China Forestry Publishing House: Beijing)
National Forestry and Grassland Administration (2019) ‘Report on Forest Resources in China.’ (China Forestry Publishing House: Beijing)
Nauslar NJ, Abatzoglou JT, Marsh PT (2018) The 2017 North Bay and Southern California Fires: a case study. Fire 1, 18
| The 2017 North Bay and Southern California Fires: a case study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Page WG, Butler BW (2017) An empirically based approach to defining wildland firefighter safety and survival zone separation distances. International Journal of Wildland Fire 26, 655–667.
| An empirically based approach to defining wildland firefighter safety and survival zone separation distances.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stefanidou M, Athanaselis S, Spiliopoulou C (2008) Health impacts of fire smoke inhalation. Inhalation Toxicology 20, 761–766.
| Health impacts of fire smoke inhalation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18569098PubMed |
Tian X, Cui W, Shu L (2020) Evaluating fire management effectiveness with a burn probability model in Daxing’anling, China. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 50, 670–679.
| Evaluating fire management effectiveness with a burn probability model in Daxing’anling, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tian XR, Shu LF, Wang MY (2005) Influences of fire regime changes on the forest ecosystem in northeast China. Forest Fire Prevention 1, 21–25. Available at https://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/detail.aspx?dbcode=CJFD&dbname=CJFD2005&filename=SLFH200501011&v=OOVFHIGzQYztr19QMYka7AbHZflQgr5EVXtgSu9BSqCh5ISMRrXCa2bDinC91yZm
Tian XR, Shu LF, Zhao FJ, Wang MY (2017) Impacts of climate change on forest fire danger in China. Scientia Silvae Sinicae 53, 159–169.
| Impacts of climate change on forest fire danger in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Turco M, Jerez S, Augusto S, Tarín-Carrasco P, Ratola N, Jiménez-Guerrero P, Trigo RM (2019) Climate drivers of the 2017 devastating fires in Portugal. Scientific Reports 9, 13886
| Climate drivers of the 2017 devastating fires in Portugal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31601820PubMed |
Van Wagner CE (1987) ‘Development and structure of the Canadian forest fire weather index system, Forestry Technical Report.’ (Canadian Forestry Service Headquarters: Ottawa)
Viegas DX, Simeoni A (2011) Eruptive Behaviour of Forest Fires. Fire Technology 47, 303–320.
| Eruptive Behaviour of Forest Fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Viegas DX, Simeoni A, Xanthopoulos G, Rossa C, Ribeiro LM, Pita LP, Stipanicev D, Zinoviev A, Weber R, Dold J, Caballero D, San Miguel J (2009) ‘Recent forest fire related accidents in Europe.’ (Office for Official Publications of the European Communities: Luxembourg)
Wang X, Wotton B, Cantin A, Parisien MA, Anderson K, Moore B, Flannigan M (2017) cffdrs: An R package for the Canadian forest fire danger rating system. Ecological Processes 6, 5
| cffdrs: An R package for the Canadian forest fire danger rating system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Xanthopoulos G (2008) People and the mass media during the fire disaster days of 2007 in Greece. In 'Proceedings of the International Bushfire Research Conference on Fire, Environment and Society', September 1–3, 2008, Adelaide, Australia. Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre and the Australasian Fire Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) pp. 494-506. (Melbourne, Vic., Australia)
Xu Y (1987) Daxinganling recovered after the great fire. In ‘China forestry yearbook 1987’. (Eds Gao MS, Qian J) pp. 524–526. (China Forestry Press: Beijing)
Yang G, Shu LF, Sun SQ, Di XY, Liu C (2015) Temporal-spatial distribution regularities of forest fire casualties in China. Journal of Catastrophology 30, 21–25. Available at http://www.zaihaixue.com/oa/DArticle.aspx?type=view&id=20150205
Zhang H (1988) Past, present and future development tendency of the forest resources in China. Journal of Natural Resources 3, 201–214.
| Past, present and future development tendency of the forest resources in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zhang Y (2008) Forest management conditions and problems from 1950 to 2003 in China. Journal of Beijing Forestry University 30, 91–96. Available at http://j.bjfu.edu.cn/article/id/8732
Zong X, Tian X, Liu J (2021) A fire regime zonation system for China. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 4, 717499
| A fire regime zonation system for China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
