@article {bnh-5194, title = {How do weather and terrain contribute to firefighter entrapments in Australia?}, journal = {International Journal of Wildland Fire}, volume = {27}, year = {2018}, month = {02/2018}, pages = {85-98}, chapter = {85}, abstract = {

Adverse weather conditions and topographic influences are suspected to be responsible for most entrapments of firefighters in Australia. A lack of temporally and spatially coherent set of data however, hinders a clear understanding of the contribution of each weather type or terrain driver on these events. We investigate coronial inquiries and internal fire agencies reports across several Australian states from 1980 to 2017 and retrieve 45 entrapments. A first analysis reveals that most entrapments happen during large fires and that the number of deaths has decreased over the last few decades. Comparing the meteorological and topographical conditions of the entrapments with the conditions of a reference set of fires without entrapment, we build a linear regression model that identifies the main contributors to firefighter entrapment. A change in wind direction, which was associated with 42\% of the incidents examined, is the main factor contributing to entrapments. Interaction between strong winds and steep slopes also influences the likelihood of entrapment and suggests that dynamic fire behaviours may also play important roles. As further details of this relationship between dynamic fire propagation and firefighter entrapment is now required, the understanding of weather and terrain contribution is a first step to produce comprehensive safety guidance.

}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1071/WF17114}, url = {https://www.publish.csiro.au/WF/WF17114}, author = {Lahaye, S and Jason J. Sharples and Stuart Matthews and Heemstra, S and Owen Price and Badlan, R} } @article {bnh-5193, title = {What are the drivers of dangerous fires in Mediterranean France?}, journal = {International Journal of Wildland Fire}, volume = {27}, year = {2018}, month = {03/2018}, pages = {155-163}, chapter = {155}, abstract = {

Wildfire containment is often very challenging for firefighters, especially for large and rapidly spreading fires where the risk of firefighter entrapment is high. However, the conditions leading to these {\textquoteleft}dangerous{\textquoteright} fires are poorly understood in Mediterranean Europe. Here, we analyse reports and interviews of firefighters over the last 40 years in four regions of south-eastern France and investigate the weather conditions that induce large fires, fast-growing fires and fires that are conducive to entrapment. We adopt a quantile regression model to test the effect of weather conditions across different fire sizes and growth rates. The results show that strong winds drive the largest fires everywhere except in Corsica, the southernmost region, where high temperature is the main driver. Strong winds also drive entrapments whereas high temperatures induce rapidly spreading fires. This emphasises that wind-driven fire is the dominant pattern of dangerous fires in France, but it reveals that large {\textquoteleft}convective{\textquoteright} fires can also present considerable danger. Beyond that, the Fire Weather Index appears to be a good predictor of large fires and fires conducive to entrapments. Identifying weather conditions that drive {\textquoteleft}dangerous{\textquoteright} wildfires will provide useful information for fire agencies to better prepare for adverse fire behaviours.

}, doi = {10.1071/WF17087}, url = {http://www.publish.csiro.au/wf/WF17087}, author = {Lahaye, S and Curt, T and Fr{\'e}javille, T and Jason J. Sharples and Paradis, L and H{\'e}ly, C} }