Wildfire simulations require high-resolution wind data to resolve terrain effects, but this is usually only available at coarse scales. We introduce a fast, simple downscaling method that produces comparable results to current methods. The method can be directly coupled to wildfire models allowing dynamic wind–terrain interactions to be modelled.

In this study, a physics-based computational model is built to simulate self-heating ignition of natural peat layers. According to the simulations, for a 1.5-m-deep peat layer, self-heating ignition can occur at an ambient temperature of 40°C. The simulations show that it is possible for wildfires to be initiated by self-heating in some conditions.

Firebreaks are constructed to isolate wildfires and protect humans and properties. This work explores the feasibility of firebreaks in controlling smouldering peat fires and details their scientific construction criteria.

As fuel moisture affects fuel ignition potential and fire behaviour, this study was aimed to determine whether vapour-exchange methods could be used for determining hourly twig fuel moisture content in larch and birch twigs in the Daxinganling Region, China, which is adversely impacted by frequent forest fires.

We examined the shift parameters that contribute to sleep loss and on-duty fatigue in Canadian wildland firefighters using recorded sleep–wake data, work–rest data and alertness and fatigue predictions from a biomathematical model of fatigue. Shift duration was the major contributor to fatigue, although none of the firefighters had on-duty fatigue scores that were considered high risk.