Fuel load sampling of a Cupressus sempervirens hedge in Parc de Cervantes, Barcelona

In this document, data from three destructive samplings performed in a Cupressus sempervirens hedge in Parc de Cervantes (Barcelona) are shown; the methodology applied is also described. Measurements of fuel load have been taken, and moisture content, mass distribution and bulk density have been calculated. Different fuel classes (according to status and diameter) have been taken into account.Postprint (published version

Technical Note TN 2.2 Fuel load sampling of a Cupressus sempervirens hedge

In this document, data from a destructive sampling of a Cupressus sempervirens hedgerow are shown, as well as the followed methodology. Measures of sizes and weights have been taken. With these data, moisture content, fuel load and bulk density have been calculated. Different fuel classes (state and diameter) have been taken into account.Postprint (updated version

Technical Note TN 2.4. Fuel sampling, tree ignition and burning tests in ADAI facilities

In this document, the followed methodology to characterize several natural fuels (trees of Cupressus arizonica, Cupressocyparis leylandii, Prunus laurocerasus and Thuja occidentalis) is presented. Also, the ignition method and the equipment used to monitor the burning of these fuels in two different configurations are described. These activities were performed in ADAI facilities (Lousa, Portugal).Preprin

Using fuzzy logic to evaluate fire vulnerability of dwellings located at the wildland-urban interface

WUI fires are posing great challenges to firefighting services, which are overwhelmed by the need to not only suppress the fire, but also protect the community. The need for self-protection is therefore growing, as is the need for the creation of fire-adapted communities. A tool that can aid homeowners and residents of the WUI is therefore created, so that they can identify the vulnerabilities present on their properties and consequently reduce them in order to diminish the risk of damage due to a wildfire. This Vulnerability Assessment Tool is based on a fault tree analysis that includes possible structural vulnerabilities as well as the different ways a fire could spread on a property to finally enter and damage the building. The identification of the probabilities of the different events in the fault tree is obtained through the use of fuzzy logic, for which inputs, outputs and rules are identified. A questionnaire targeted to homeowners and based on the fault tree and linked to the probability identified with fuzzy logic is then developed. By filling in this questionnaire, homeowners at the WUI will be able to know what the probability of a fire entering their house is. The result of the questionnaire also indicates which are the issues on the property that need to be addressed in order to lower this probability. Finally, the tool is validated with a case study of several houses affected by a fire in Spain.Postprint (published version

Evaluating wildfire vulnerability of Mediterranean dwellings using fuzzy logic applied to expert judgement

Background. Wildland–urban interface (WUI) fires pose great challenges to firefighting services and there is a growing need for self-protection and the creation of fire-adapted communities. Aim. A tool that can aid homeowners and residents of the Mediterranean WUI was created so that they can identify vulnerabilities present on their properties and consequently reduce them in order to reduce the risk of fires igniting dwellings. Methods. This Vulnerability Assessment Tool is based on a fault tree analysis that includes possible structural vulnerabilities as well as the different ways a fire could spread on a property to finally enter and ignite a dwelling. The probabilities of the different events are obtained from fuzzy preferences of WUI experts. Key results. Our system was tested against real-world data taken from two WUI fires that occurred in 2021 and 2022 in Spain in which several dwellings were affected, with different degrees of damage (minor to major losses). Conclusions. The tool is able to show the vulnerabilities of the properties and to account for differences in building characteristics and vegetation management at the parcel scale. Implications. A planned use of this tool would be key to improving fire resilience at the community level.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Dimensional and scale analysis in forest fire modeling

The aim of this work is to discuss about the use of Dimensional and Scale Analysis in forest fires modeling.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

WUI state of the art and regulatory needs in Europe

The document summarizes the state of the art of the regulationsrelevant to WUI in Europe, providing an organized set of references to the specific regulatory documents. It is focused on three main relevant topics: i) fuel-reduced fringes; ii) Building codes and standards; iii)Wildland-Industrial Interface. Current regulations are analysed and compared, leading to the identification of important needs and limitations of the current European regulatory frameworkPreprin

Estudio experimental sobre la eficiencia de una lona ignífuga: temperaturas en el interior del vehículo y concentación de gases

Postprint (published version

Performance analysis of a self-protection system for vehicles in case of WUI fire entrapment

Sheltering inside a civilian vehicle has proved to be a high risk strategy in case of wildfire entrapment. Survival is by no means guaranteed, especially in moderate to high-intensity wildfires. However, vehicles do offer a certain degree of fire protection, which can be reinforced by ad-hoc fire resistant technology. In this paper, we present the experimental performance analysis of a self-protection system that has been designed to protect people’s life in case of fire entrapment. Similar to a firefighter fire shelter, the designed system can be quickly deployed covering the whole vehicle. In case of fire exposure, this fabric provides additional heat protection to the occupants and the vehicle itself. An experimental burning was designed in order to simulate real fire exposure conditions in case of vehicle entrapment in a rural road. An ex-situ 2-m high fuel bed composed of Pinus halepensis fine logging slash was arranged in a 13 m long x 6 m wide area. Fire was ignited at one end of the fuel bed and spread driven by an induced constant air flow (3 m/s midflame wind speed). 2.8 m away from the other fuel bed end, a car covered with the fire protection fabric was placed, parallel to the fire. Data analysis provided mean values of fire rate of spread (2 m/s), fireline intensity (1800 kW/m), flame height (6.5 m), flame tilt angle (30º), flame depth (2 m), flame temperature (800 ºC) and flame emissive power (47.5 kW/m2 ). Maximum air temperatures inside the vehicle ranged around 41-42.5 ºC during a period between 20 min and 35 min after ignition. A thermocouple in contact with the internal side of the driver’s window registered a maximum value of 47.3 ºC. These results evidenced the good performance of the fabric when protecting eventual vehicle occupants against thermal exposure from wildfires of moderate intensity.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Methodology for the analysis of structural vulnerability of WUI settlements

As WUI fires have become a global concern, there is a growing need for engineering methodologies that lead to proactive fire management not only at the landscape level, but at all WUI scales. This paper presents a quantitative methodology for structural vulnerability assessment at the WUI settlement level that is based on 10 indicators, established for the different fire exposure phases a WUI area experiences (pre-impact, impact and fire transfer) as well as on other factors that can escalate vulnerability. As output, a Structural Vulnerability Index (SVI) for the entire analyzed area can be obtained. The methodology can not only assess vulnerability of WUI settlements in a quantitative way, but it can also quantify the effect of measures employed for the reduction of this vulnerability. Additionally, the methodology is suitable for comparison between different settlements or neighborhoods of the same area. A case study for the city of Barcelona, Spain, is presented, in which 9 WUI neighborhoods are analyzed and vulnerability reduction measures are prioritized.This research is funded by the Barcelona City Council and “La Caixa” Foundation (project WUICOM-BCN, 21S09274-001), the project PID2020-114766RB-100 of MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the project TED2021-130484B-100, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union “NextGenerationEU”/PRTR. The authors also want to thank Bombers de Barcelona, the Consortium of the Natural Park of Collserola for their help in data gathering and the Pau Costa Foundation. A. Águeda is a Serra-Húnter fellow.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version