Critical New Research Expands Size of Wildland Firefighter Safety Zones
The Joint Fire Science Program has supported the wildfire safety zone work of Bret Butler, a research engineer at the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory. Bret recently reviewed current guidelines and is leading development of new guidelines that will link slope, wind, and fire intensity to safety zone size.
A preliminary safety zone rule from this effort is now available, based on current findings relative to energy transport from wildland fire in the presence of slope and wind. The calculation is based on vegetation height rather than flame height.
Although results are preliminary and subject to change, this new research significantly expands the safety zone for many situations and should be used to provide an extra margin of safety for all wildland fire personnel.
Learn more here: http://www.firelab.org/project/firefighter-safety-zones
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