CSIRO PUBLISHING | International Journal of Wildland Fire

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. The five closely linked papers (1) introduce the AFDRS, providing a short history of fire danger rating in Australia together with requirements to make advancements, and describe its design principles and development; (2) identify and present the AFDRS’ framework for defining and categorising fire danger; (3) describe its system for implementing fire behaviour calculations to forecast fire danger; and (4) evaluate the performance of AFDRS Research Prototype; and (5) its underlying climatology. Beyond the advances presented in this collection on predicting fire danger in Australia, the papers provide valuable insights for the international reader on the large body of research that underpins this new Fire Danger Rating System, and on the steps involved in its development and implementation.

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

Last Updated: 04 Jul 2024

WF23140Introduction to the Australian Fire Danger Rating System ^†

Jennifer J. Hollis, Stuart Matthews, Paul Fox-Hughes

, Saskia Grootemaat, Simon Heemstra, Belinda J. Kenny and Sam Sauvage

Flow chart showing the core components of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System

We introduce the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS), providing a history of fire danger rating in Australia and requirement for advancements. We describe development, design principles and the supporting framework of the AFDRS as an introduction to subsequent papers in this series.

This article belongs to the Collection Australian Fire Danger Rating System.

WF23141A framework for defining fire danger to support fire management operations in Australia ^†

Jennifer J. Hollis, Stuart Matthews, Wendy R. Anderson, Miguel G. Cruz

, Paul Fox-Hughes

, Saskia Grootemaat, Belinda J. Kenny and Sam Sauvage

Stacked bar chart showing variation in thresholds based on fireline intensity (shown on a logarithmic scale) for Forest, Pine, Shrubland, Northern Grassland (savanna) and Grassland fuel types.

We identify and present defined categories and thresholds for the Australian Fire Danger Rating System: Research Prototype based on reflecting transitions in fire behaviour that result in application of different fire management strategies or associated with variation in potential for serious consequences and impacts.

This article belongs to the Collection Australian Fire Danger Rating System.

WF23142Australian Fire Danger Rating System: implementing fire behaviour calculations to forecast fire danger in a research prototype ^†

B. J. Kenny, S. Matthews, S. Sauvage, S. Grootemaat, J. J. Hollis and P. Fox-Hughes

A spatially explicit forecast calculation system was designed and implemented to assess a new fire danger rating system for Australia based on fire behaviour models, weather inputs and a national fuel spatial data layer. This article is part of a collection about the Australian Fire Danger Rating System.

This article belongs to the Collection Australian Fire Danger Rating System.

WF23143Live trial performance of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System – Research Prototype ^†

S. Grootemaat, S. Matthews, B. J. Kenny, J. W. Runcie, J. J. Hollis, S. Sauvage, P. Fox-Hughes

and A. Holmes

A Research Prototype of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS_RP) was designed and tested in a live trial. Fire danger ratings derived from the AFDRS_RP and FFDI/GFDI systems were compared to expert-derived ratings for 336 fires. In this paper the results of the live trial are presented and discussed.

This article belongs to the Collection Australian Fire Danger Rating System.

WF23144Australian Fire Danger Rating System Research Prototype: a climatology ^†

S. Sauvage, P. Fox-Hughes

, S. Matthews, B. J. Kenny, J. J. Hollis, S. Grootemaat, J. W. Runcie, A. Holmes, R. M. B. Harris, P. T. Love and G. Williamson

We present a 19-year climatology of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System: Research Prototype (AFDRS_RP), recently implemented operationally throughout Australia. The climatology describes the typical spatial and temporal behaviour of the AFDRS_RP. It is important for users to improve familiarity with the new system, and to ensure it performs as expected.

This article belongs to the Collection Australian Fire Danger Rating System.

WF23140Introduction to the Australian Fire Danger Rating System†

WF23141A framework for defining fire danger to support fire management operations in Australia†

WF23142Australian Fire Danger Rating System: implementing fire behaviour calculations to forecast fire danger in a research prototype†

WF23143Live trial performance of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System – Research Prototype†

WF23144Australian Fire Danger Rating System Research Prototype: a climatology†

WF23140Introduction to the Australian Fire Danger Rating System ^†

WF23141A framework for defining fire danger to support fire management operations in Australia ^†

WF23142Australian Fire Danger Rating System: implementing fire behaviour calculations to forecast fire danger in a research prototype ^†

WF23143Live trial performance of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System – Research Prototype ^†

WF23144Australian Fire Danger Rating System Research Prototype: a climatology ^†