Insights on fire prediction

The following provides details on an AFAC research utilisation tool kit, developed with Bushfire CRC research.

How does research get used, what makes it useful, and what gets in the way of operationalisation? The latest AFAC case study on fire behaviour prediction in mallee-heath offers some practical insights from the researchers and end-users.

“To go or not to go?” This is the critical question for fire managers in deciding whether to conduct prescribed burns for specific fire or ecological goals.

Until recently, practitioners conducting prescribed burns in mallee-heath had no evidence-based guide to best practice for managing prescribed burns in this type of vegetation. They had to resort to finding a middle ground, drawing on information from existing forest and grass fire behaviour guides, together with their own experience to determine whether a prescribed burn would meet their planned objectives.

The latest AFAC case study captures how researchers from the CSIRO and practitioners from relevant state government departments worked collaboratively through the Bushfire CRC and AFAC to develop a Quick guide for fire behaviour prediction in semi-arid mallee-heath.

Their collaborative efforts contributed to the research program and fieldwork and the development and release of the quick guide, which was instrumental in ensuring the adoption of evidence-based practice. Today the guide is used by practitioners in the neighboring states of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales, providing a practical and systematic method for predicting the probability of self-sustained fire propagation and associated rate of spread in prescribed burn operations and semi-arid mallee-heath woodlands.

This case traces the development of the initiative -  from its genesis in a conversation between a fire manager for South Australia’s Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and CSIRO scientists at a conference -  through each phase of the research utilisation pathway.

The case study, which can be found here traces the barriers and critical success factors to research operationalisation. Foremost of these were the early involvement of end-users and the strong relationships and communication between all stakeholders.

The case study is part of a series co-developed by AFAC and its member agencies and partners. It aims to share examples of good evidence-based practice and principles. Other examples and insights are available at AFAC’s research utilisation webpage.