Improving Wildland Fire Safety: A Challenge for Forest Fire Researchers Richard J. Mangan Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA

A High Risk Environment for Firefighters

Illnesses/Injuries/Fatalities

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Illnesses/Injuries

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Illnesses/Injuries Fatigue

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Illnesses/Injuries Fatigue Smoke

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Illnesses/Injuries Fatigue Smoke Heat Stress

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Illnesses/Injuries Fatigue Smoke Heat Stress Ankle/Knee/Back

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Fatalities

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Fatalities Burnovers

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Fatalities Burnovers Heart Attacks

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Fatalities Burnovers Heart Attacks Aircraft Accidents

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Fatalities Burnovers Heart Attacks Aircraft Accidents Vehicle Accidents

20 th Century Improvements

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA 20 th Century Improvements Air Tankers

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA 20 th Century Improvements Air Tankers Helicopters

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Other Important 20 th Century Improvements

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Other Important 20 th Century Improvements Protective Clothing

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Other Important 20 th Century Improvements Protective Clothing Engine Protection Systems

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Other Important 20 th Century Improvements Protective Clothing Engine Protection Systems Ignition Systems (Ground and Aerial)

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Some Subtle Improvements

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Some Subtle Improvements Remote Automatic Weather Stations

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Some Subtle Improvements Remote Automatic Weather Stations Fire Behavior Modeling

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Some Subtle Improvements Remote Automatic Weather Stations Fire Behavior Modeling Satellite Technology (Green-up & Drought)

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Some Subtle Improvements Remote Automatic Weather Stations Fire Behavior Modeling Satellite Technology (Green-up & Drought) Lightning Detection

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Research & Development Facilities

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Research & Development Facilities CSIRO and NRE (Australia)

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Research & Development Facilities CSIRO and NRE (Australia) Private (i.e. Iturri Company, Spain)

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Research & Development Facilities CSIRO and NRE (Australia) Private (i.e. Iturri Company, Spain) Canadian Forest Service

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Research & Development Facilities CSIRO and NRE (Australia) Private (i.e. Iturri Company, Spain) Canadian Forest Service Siberian Fire Research Labs

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Research & Development Facilities CSIRO and NRE (Australia) Private (i.e. Iturri Company, Spain) Canadian Forest Service Siberian Fire Research Labs US Forest Service Fire Labs and T&D Centers

Few in Number, World-wide in Scope

Our Challenge “…coordinate integrated research among physical, biological and social science researchers to develop meaningful products, with effective technology transfer, for field firefighters….”

Key Components

Needed Information/Equipment

Key Components Needed Information/Equipment Cost Efficient

Key Components Needed Information/Equipment Cost Efficient Timely

Key Components Needed Information/Equipment Cost Efficient Timely User-Friendly

Who is Your Market??

1 st World, 2 nd World, and 3 rd World Nations, and their Firefighters

Obstacles to Improving Wildfire Safety

Tradition

Obstacles to Improving Wildfire Safety Tradition Ownership

Obstacles to Improving Wildfire Safety Tradition Ownership Physical Limitations

Obstacles to Improving Wildfire Safety Tradition Ownership Physical Limitations Costs

Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety

Knowledge-based

Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety Knowledge-based Equipment-based

Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety Knowledge-based Equipment-based Behavior-based

Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety Knowledge-based Equipment-based Behavior-based Health & Fitness

Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety Knowledge-based Equipment-based Behavior-based Health & Fitness Decision Support Systems

Research Opportunities to Improve Firefighter Safety Knowledge-based Equipment-based Behavior-based Health & Fitness Decision Support Systems Urban Interface

Knowledge-Based

Fire Weather

Knowledge-Based Fire Weather Fire Behavior

Knowledge-Based Fire Weather Fire Behavior –Spotting

Knowledge-Based Fire Weather Fire Behavior –Spotting –Crowning

Knowledge-Based Fire Weather Fire Behavior –Spotting –Crowning –Extreme Behavior

Knowledge-Based Fire Weather Fire Behavior –Spotting –Crowning –Extreme Behavior Smoke Management

Some Success Stories

Project Vesta (Australia)

Some Success Stories Project Vesta (Australia) Int. Crown Fire Modeling Expt. (Canada)

Equipment - Based

Protective Clothing

Equipment - Based Protective Clothing Personal Shelters –Australian Blankets –U.S Fire Shelters

Equipment - Based Protective Clothing Personal Shelters –Australian Blankets –U.S Fire Shelters Respiratory Protection

Equipment - Based Protective Clothing Personal Shelters –Australian Blankets –U.S Fire Shelters Respiratory Protection Engines/Tankers

Behavior-Based

Human Factors

Behavior-Based Human Factors Crew Cohesion

Behavior-Based Human Factors Crew Cohesion Fireline Leadership

Behavior-Based Human Factors Crew Cohesion Fireline Leadership Decision-Making Under Stress

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Health & Fitness-Based

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Health & Fitness-Based Work Capacity Tests

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Health & Fitness-Based Work Capacity Tests Nutrition

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Health & Fitness-Based Work Capacity Tests Nutrition Injury Analysis

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Health & Fitness-Based Work Capacity Tests Nutrition Injury Analysis Work Hardening

Blackbull Wildfire Services Missoula, Montana USA Health & Fitness-Based Work Capacity Tests Nutrition Injury Analysis Work Hardening Work/Rest/Fatigue

Decision Support Systems

Integration of GPS/GIS/IR

Decision Support Systems Integration of GPS/GIS/IR Dispatch Automation and Coordination

Decision Support Systems Integration of GPS/GIS/IR Dispatch Automation and Coordination Risk Analysis Processes

Wildland Interface Fires

Firesafe Building Materials

Wildland Interface Fires Firesafe Building Materials Vegetation Management

Wildland Interface Fires Firesafe Building Materials Vegetation Management Public Education

Wildland Interface Fires Firesafe Building Materials Vegetation Management Public Education Structure Protection Systems

Bringing Our Research Efforts Together….

Universities

Bringing Our Research Efforts Together…. Universities Professional Societies

Bringing Our Research Efforts Together…. Universities Professional Societies Conferences

Bringing Our Research Efforts Together…. Universities Professional Societies Conferences U.N./E.U.

Bringing Our Research Efforts Together…. Universities Professional Societies Conferences U.N./E.U. IUFFRO

Bringing Our Research Efforts Together…. Universities Professional Societies Conferences U.N./E.U. IUFFRO Government Agencies

The Results of Your Efforts…..