The influence of ignition technique on fire behaviour in spinifex open woodland in semiarid northern Australia
Paul R. Williams A B G , Eleanor M. Collins B , Mick Blackman C , Clare Blackman C , Jackie McLeod C , Leasie Felderhof D , Lauren Colless D , Kate Masters E , Simon Coates E , Andrew Sturgess F and Graeme Martin F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Division of Tropical Environments and Societies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
B Vegetation Management Science, PO Box 32, Malanda, Qld 4885, Australia.
C Friendly Fire Ecological Consultants, PO Box 141, Mt Molloy, Qld 4871, Australia.
D Firescape Science, PO Box 158, Atherton, Qld 4883, Australia.
E Glencore, PMB 6, Mt Isa, Qld 4825, Australia.
F Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, GPO Box 1425, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: paul.williams@jcu.edu.au
International Journal of Wildland Fire 24(5) 607-612 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF14177
Submitted: 29 September 2014 Accepted: 6 February 2015 Published: 31 March 2015
Abstract
Unplanned, unmanaged wildfires are a significant threat to people, infrastructure and ecosystems around the world. Managed, planned burning is widely used for reducing the incidence, extent or intensity of wildfires. Fire weather and the season of burning are recognised as crucial factors influencing fire behaviour but the demonstrated influence of ignition technique on fire behaviour is not as prominently discussed in relation to planned fires. We found wildfires, irrespective of season, burnt the ground layer more completely (i.e. were less patchy) and produced greater crown scorch severity than did planned fires in a spinifex (Triodia spp.)-dominated open woodland. Fires ignited with a 50-m line burning with the wind produced significantly higher intensities than did line ignition against the wind, and spot ignitions with or against the wind. These data suggest that the higher severity of wildfires in spinifex-dominated habitats is strongly influenced by long fire fronts, in addition to fire season and weather conditions. This study supports the value of planned burning for reducing fire severity and highlights the value of spot ignitions in ecological burning to create a patchily burnt landscape, with limited canopy severity.
Additional keywords: planned burning, semiarid rangeland, wildfire.
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