Published works

Fire managers need better estimates of fuel hazard and loading in post-cyclone damaged vegetation so they can more accurately predict the behaviour of potential fires and plan fire mitigation and suppression strategies. In February 2015, Tropical Cyclone Marcia caused massive defoliation across the central coastal region of Queensland, uprooting trees and snapping off stems and branches. The magnitude of the damage changed the fuel hazard and loads in forest areas. This study examined a proportion of the forests damaged to assess fuel hazard and loading of fine fuels and downed woody material.

A visual assessment technique was developed and tested to provide ratings of cyclone damage and fuel loads. Visual cyclone damage scores reflect the quantity and arrangement of the fuel to better predict fire behaviour and improve planning mitigation and suppression strategies. The study demonstrated that severity of a cyclone can increase the fire spread and fireline intensity by 1.5 and 2.5 fold respectively and impede fire line access. Results were used to develop a supplementary field guide that can be used with the existing fuel hazard guides.