Prescribed burning of ground-level shrubs, branches and leaves is a time-tested tool to help prevent wildland fires from getting out of control, but a team led by researchers at the University of California, Irvine suggests that the practice isn't used frequently enough.
The scientists conducted an in-depth assessment of meteorological and vegetation data for 35 years and found several additional periods during winter and spring in which wind, temperature and humidity levels would allow safe and effective human-set fires.
These typically low-intensity blazes consume surface fuels on the forest floor while preserving trees. During an outbreak of wildfire, controlled burns can be used to reduce the intensity of the fire. The mechanical forest thinning method is less effective than the other methods.
California's wildfires have been getting worse every year in recent decades due to factors such as climate change and a century-long fire deficit.
About 40 percent of controlled burns happen in the fall, 25 percent in the winter, and 10 percent in the summer according to the study. The burn efficiency rate is the ratio of acres burned to burns per season. In Northern California, the number of burns could be increased.
The number of days with favorable weather conditions for prescribed burns is decreasing in the winter and spring according to the study.
She said that research shows that permitting does not begin until the heart of the season ends. California residents' fears that prescribed fires might inadvertently escape can make it difficult for authorities to curtail controlled burns and approve future burn plans.
One of the biggest obstructions to conducting more prescribed fires in California is limited burn windows.
Students from the research group in civil and environmental engineering, as well as a former student, were on the project.
More information: Janine A. Baijnath-Rodino et al, Historical seasonal changes in prescribed burn windows in California, Science of The Total Environment (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155723 Journal information: Science of the Total Environment Citation: Research recommends extending California's prescribed burning season (2022, May 17) retrieved 17 May 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-05-california-season.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
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