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1. Coupled fire-atmosphere simulation of the 2018 Camp Fire using WRF-Fire

   https://doi.org/10.1071/WF22013  

   Shamsaei, Kasra; Juliano, Timothy W.; Roberts, Matthew; Ebrahimian, Hamed; Kosovic, Branko; Lareau, Neil P.; Taciroglu, Ertugrul (January 2023, International Journal of Wildland Fire)

   Background Accurate simulation of wildfires can benefit pre-ignition mitigation and preparedness, and post-ignition emergency response management. Aims We evaluated the performance of Weather Research and Forecast-Fire (WRF-Fire), a coupled fire-atmosphere wildland fire simulation platform, in simulating a large historic fire (2018 Camp Fire). Methods A baseline model based on a setup typically used for WRF-Fire operational applications is utilised to simulate Camp Fire. Simulation results are compared to high-temporal-resolution fire perimeters derived from NEXRAD observations. The sensitivity of the model to a series of modelling parameters and assumptions governing the simulated wind field are then investigated. Results of WRF-Fire for Camp Fire are compared to FARSITE. Key results Baseline case shows non-negligible discrepancies between the simulated fire and the observations on rate of spread (ROS) and spread direction. Sensitivity analysis results show that refining the atmospheric grid of Camp Fire’s complex terrain improves fire prediction capabilities. Conclusions Sensitivity studies show the importance of refined atmosphere modelling for wildland fire simulation using WRF-Fire in complex terrains. Compared to FARSITE, WRF-Fire agrees better with the observations in terms of fire propagation rate and direction. Implications The findings suggest the need for further investigation of other possible sources of wildfire modelling uncertainties and errors. 

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2. Methods to assess fire-induced tree mortality: review of fire behaviour proxy and real fire experiments

   https://doi.org/10.1071/WF24136  

   Smith, Alistair_M S; Partelli-Feltrin, Raquel; Sparks, Aaron M; Moberly, James G; Adams, Henry D; Schwilk, Dylan W; Tinkham, Wade T; Kok, John R; Wilson, David R; Thompson, Alex; et al (January 2025, International Journal of Wildland Fire)

   Background The increased interest in why and how trees die from fire has led to several syntheses of the potential mechanisms of fire-induced tree mortality. However, these generally neglect to consider experimental methods used to simulate fire behaviour conditions. Aims To describe, evaluate the appropriateness of and provide a historical timeline of the different approaches that have been used to simulate fire behaviour in fire-induced tree mortality studies. Methods We conducted a historical review of the different actual and fire proxy methods that have been used to further our understanding of fire-induced tree mortality. Key results Most studies that assess the mechanisms of fire-induced tree mortality in laboratory settings make use of fire proxies instead of real fires and use cut branches instead of live plants. Implications Further research should assess mechanisms of fire-induced tree mortality using live plants in paired combustion laboratory and landscape fire experiments. 

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3. Baptism of Fire: Modeling the Effects of Prescribed Fire on Lyme Disease

   https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5300887  

   Guo, Emily; Agusto, Folashade B. (May 2022, Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology)

   Di Luca, Marco (Ed.)

   Recently, tick-borne illnesses have been trending upward and are an increasing source of risk to people’s health in the United States. This is due to range expansion in tick habitats as a result of climate change. Thus, it is imperative to find a practical and cost-efficient way of managing tick populations. Prescribed burns are a common form of land management that can be cost-efficient if properly managed and can be applied across large amounts of land. In this study, we present a compartmental model for ticks carrying Lyme disease and uniquely incorporate the effects of prescribed fire using an impulsive system to investigate the effects of prescribed fire intensity (high and low) and the duration between burns. Our study found that fire intensity has a larger impact in reducing tick population than the frequency between burns. Furthermore, burning at high intensity is preferable to burning at low intensity whenever possible, although high-intensity burns may be unrealistic due to environmental factors. Annual burns resulted in the most significant reduction in infectious nymphs, which are the primary carriers of Lyme disease. 

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4. Influences of fire-vegetation feedbacks and post-fire recovery rates on forest landscape vulnerability to altered fire regimes

   https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12950  

   Tepley, Alan J.; Thomann, Enrique; Veblen, Thomas T.; Perry, George L. W.; Holz, Andrés; Paritsis, Juan; Kitzberger, Thomas; Anderson-Teixeira, Kristina J.; Lines, ed., Emily (March 2018, Journal of Ecology)
5. Integrating dynamic wildland fire position input with a community fire spread simulation: A case study of the 2018 Camp Fire

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.104076  

   Szasdi-Bardales, Fernando; Shamsaei, Kasra; Lareau, Neil P; Juliano, Timothy W; Kosovic, Branko; Ebrahimian, Hamed; Elhami-Khorasani, Negar (February 2024, Fire Safety Journal)