Research burns aim to improve wildfire readiness, response

Scion is running experimental research burns near Christchurch from March 3-14, to test new theories on how wildfires spread under various conditions. This will help improve operational and community readiness for and response to future events – and enhance firefighter and public safety.

The research will involve a series of stubble fires (harvested agricultural paddocks that still have standing dry barley and wheat crop stalks). Scientific instruments will be used to collect data on fuels, weather and fire behaviour. It is a collaboration between Scion’s wildfire researchers, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the University of Canterbury, the United States Forest Service and San José State University.

Understanding how fire behaves helps improve the models we use for predicting future wildfires in the NZ landscape and internationally. Better prediction means we can more effectively plan and prepare for future fires and more safely respond to existing ones – to help keep people, property, animals, and the environment safe in the event of a wildfire. Scion fire ecologist Shana Gross says this is important as, globally, wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe, with fire behaviour in real-world conditions often defying existing models.

The burn window is based on paddock harvest dates and the weather. A burn plan has been completed and a permit will be obtained prior to the burns in accordance with the current fire season status and requirements.

“Scion will implement rigorous safety measures for each experimental burn regardless of fire season status, in collaboration with Fire and Emergency,” Shana says.

Safety measures for this research include having meteorologists and fire specialists on hand to assess weather conditions, having firefighters and equipment on site to suppress fire and creating fire breaks necessary for the conditions during the burns. Standard practice for stubble burns is 6m of fire break on all sides of the fire. Additionally, many of the New Zealand and international researchers involved are trained wildfire personnel.

People are also asked to keep their distance from the fires.

The burn window gives researchers flexibility to burn within suitable weather conditions. “We review weather constantly in the lead-up to this window,” Shana says. “We will make a call about the first burn day 2-3 days before the window, confirm it the night prior, and make a final decision right before ignition. “We will burn when weather conditions align and instrumentation has been set up.”

Scion aims to burn on 5-6 days during the 12-day window – with 4-8 paddocks expected to be burned over this time.

Stubble fires provide an opportunity to create continuous burns/flame fronts to allow researchers to analyse flame structure and fire behaviour. “The learnings and improved models and predictions gained from experimental research burns aim to enhance NZ’s resilience to wildfires, improve safety, enhance response strategies and tactics and reduce the impact and frequency of wildfires,” Shana says.

This research is part of Scion’s Extreme Wildfire Programme. It is funded by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment and supported by the Rural Fire Research Advisory Committee.