Fuel moisture lag effects on fire spread post wind change

This project has been commissioned by Country Fire Authority Victoria (CFA).

The ability for fire to start and spread depends on the moisture content of surface fuels and their response to environmental changes. Research into Fine Fuel Moisture Content (FFMC) has led to the development of models that characterise the daily moisture cycle of fine fuels. These models are crucial for predicting fire spread and ensuring public safety through community warnings and suppression strategies.

Little is known about the time lags of FFMC or the moisture level of fine fuels in various vegetation systems, especially in wind change events.

This project will study how changes in temperature and humidity affect the FFMC in the context of bushfire models and simulators. The project seeks to clarify the causal relationships behind the dynamic changes in FFMC.

The key objective is to understand how FFMC changes in response to varying temperatures and humidity in terms of both magnitude and timing.

The research findings will be used to identify current operational weaknesses and provide options for their resolution. The project will develop improved FFMC equations that can be implemented into future bushfire models.