The Wildland Fire Operations Research Group (WFORG) of FPInnovations - Feric Division in collaboration with the University of Alberta initiated a project in late 2007 at the request of its stakeholers to examin and define the limits of wildland firefighter safety and survival zones. This partnership combines research and practical expertise in wildland fire suppression, fire behaviour, heat transfer, and fire resistant clothing evaluation.
Power transmission line vulnerability to wildfire is a concern shared by all of the provincial and territorial agencies, and utility companies. Parks Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories wanted to know if infrastructure could be damaged directly by wildfire, or through firefighting operations such as back burning. In 2008, the Sandy Lake Fire 13 crossed a Northwest Territories Power Corporation transmission line at several locations. The towers on this line were built from an aluminum alloy and may not have the same resistance to heat damage as steel towers which are more commonly used on major transmission lines. This project documents the post fire conditions found at these locations.
This project intends to identify the size of an area in which a firefighter can hunker down to survive a wildfire situation. Little research exists that provides firefighters this information to use when involved in a life-threatening situation. Firefighters must understand that they will be in a very uncomfortable situation, but should survive if they need to use a survival zone.
This project intends to identify the size of an area in which a firefighter can hunker down to survive a wildfire situation. Little research exists that provides firefighters this information to use when involved in a life-threatening situation. Firefighters must understand that they will be in a very uncomfortable situation, but should survive if they need to use a survival zone.
The objective of this study is to determine and document fire behaviour in pine stands with severe mortality due to the Mountain Pine Beetle. Specifically, we aim to evaluate the differences in (1) crown fire ignition and (2) crown fire rates of spread between (a) green trees and green-attack trees and (b) green trees and red-attack trees.
Measure the change in moisture content of the air mass surrounding a sprinkler head delivering water over a given time period in an open field and closed stand of forest
The main objective of this study was to monitor the moisture content of post-harvest, piled woody debris over time to determine the time required for the moisture content to drop below 25%, which is the approximate level for the most efficient burning, and thus the most complete disposal and the least smoke production. A secondary objective was to compare the operational use of two types of digital meters for measuring moisture content of wood.
