Grassfires presents the latest information from CSIRO on the behavior and spread of fires in grasslands. This second edition follows ten years of research aimed at improving the understanding of fundamental processes involved in the behavior of bushfires and grassfires.The book has been extensively revised and new case studies have been added to reflect the latest findings in research and investigations. The book covers all aspects of fire behavior and spread in the major types of grasses in Australia. It examines the factors that affect fire behavior in continuous grassy fuels; fire in spinifex fuels; the effect of weather and topography on fire spread; wildfire suppression strategies; and how to reconstruct grassfire spread after the fact. The three fire-spread meters designed by CSIRO and used for the prediction of fire danger and rate of spread of grassfires are explained and their use and limitations discussed.This new edition expands on the historical view of grassfires with respect to extensive Aboriginal burning, combustion chemistry, flame structure and temperature, spotting and spread in discontinuous/eaten out fuels, and the effect of wind in complex terrain. The case studies in the chapter “Wildfires and Their Suppression” have been updated and include the major wild grassfire events of recent years, the January 2003 ACT fires and the 2005 Wangary, SA fire. The “Myths, Facts and Fallacies” chapter includes new myths and a new section on personal safety during a wild grass fire.Of interest to all rural fire fighters and rural landholders, students and teachers of courses on landscape and ecological processes, rural and peri-urban dwellers, fire authorities and researchers.
Author(s): Phil Cheney, Andrew Sullivan
Edition: Second Edition
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 161
Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 6
Foreword......Page 4
Preface to the 1st edition......Page 8
Preface to the 2nd edition......Page 10
Acknowledgements......Page 11
Grassfires in Australia......Page 12
A historical view......Page 13
Predicting grassfire spread......Page 15
Tropical grasslands......Page 18
Tussock grasslands......Page 20
Hummock grasslands......Page 21
Improved pastures......Page 23
Grassland life cycles......Page 25
The combustion process......Page 28
Diffusion flames......Page 30
Moving grassfires......Page 32
Fire types......Page 33
Flame zone characteristics......Page 35
Fireline intensity......Page 40
Ignition......Page 42
Fire growth......Page 43
Fuel characteristics......Page 46
Fuel moisture content......Page 49
Wind speed......Page 51
Slope......Page 54
Fire behaviour in spinifex......Page 55
5 Predicting fire spread......Page 60
Fuel condition......Page 61
Grass curing state......Page 63
Dead fuel moisture content......Page 66
Wind speed......Page 68
Slope......Page 70
CSIRO grassland fire spread prediction system......Page 71
Wind......Page 78
Interaction of fuel moisture with relative humidity......Page 89
Other factors that influence fire behaviour......Page 91
7 Fire danger......Page 94
Fire spread and fire danger prediction......Page 96
8 Wildfires and their suppression......Page 98
Past wildfire events......Page 99
Suppression of grassfires under extreme conditions......Page 107
Firebreaks......Page 113
9 Grassfire investigation......Page 116
Wind direction......Page 117
Shape of the fire perimeter......Page 119
Power line ignitions......Page 123
10 Safety: myths, facts and fallacies......Page 126
The fire consumed all the oxygen around me and I could not breathe......Page 127
Boiled alive......Page 130
The fire creates its own wind......Page 131
The fire was so hot it melted the engine block......Page 133
The green grass burns faster......Page 134
Exploding petrol tanks......Page 135
Great balls of fire......Page 138
Faster than a speeding bullet......Page 139
The fire was equivalent to eight Hiroshimas......Page 140
It can’t happen here......Page 141
The red steer......Page 142
Glossary......Page 145
Bibliography and further reading......Page 153
Index......Page 158
