Firefighter tenability and its influence on wildfire suppression

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Fire Safety Journal

Publisher

Elsevier Ltd

School

School of Engineering / School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

27706

Comments

Penney, G., Habibi, D., & Cattani, M. (2019). Firefighter tenability and its influence on wildfire suppression. Fire Safety Journal, 106, 38-51. Available here

Abstract

This paper provides analysis of international fire service siege wildfire suppression thresholds and reports on the effect of forest fuel structure, fire weather condition and terrain on the suitability of suppression strategies. Further, this study applies a fire engineering approach whereby siege wildfire behaviour is deterministically assessed against firefighter tenability thresholds. This research is significant as it is the first study to consider human tenability as a factor in determining appropriateness of wildfire suppression strategies and tactics. The results clearly demonstrate offensive siege wildfire suppression involving direct head fire attacks by personnel and appliances exposes firefighters to untenable conditions well in advance of the head fire edge. Accordingly fire services may need to consider earlier instigation of defensive strategies and increased reliance on aerial wildfire suppression.

DOI

10.1016/j.firesaf.2019.03.012

Access Rights

subscription content

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS