B.C. Ministry of Forests Forest Science Program
		Abstract for FRH012

		Field Guide to the Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) System
		Authors or Ministry Contacts: S.W. Taylor, R.G. Pike and M.E. Alexander
		Branch: Research
		Subject: Fire Management
		Series: FRDA Handbook
		Other details: Published 1996.

Abstract

The Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction System is a systematic method for assessing wildland fire behavior potential. It is a series of mathematical equations were relating fire characteristics to wind, fuel moisture, and topographic conditions for 16 benchmark fuel (vegetation) types. Complete and precise fire behavior predictions are best made using computer-based representations of the system. However, this guide was prepared to allow first approximations of FBP System outputs when computer-based applications are not available. It is intended mainly to be used as a field reference and should be used in place of the forest fire growth calculator (MacAlpine 1986), which is based on the interim version of the FPB System (Alexander et al. 1984). Certain simplifications were made so that important fire behavior characteristics could be presented in tabular form, and these are noted in the approximate section. The symbols used in the guide are listed in Appendix 1 and many of the terms are defined in Appendix 2.

PLEASE NOTE:

An updated version was published as:

Taylor, S.W., R.G. Pike and M.E. Alexander. 1997. Field guide to the Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) system. Special Report 11, Fire Management Network, Northern Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada. Edmonton, Alberta. viii + 60 p. Available from UBC Press, Vancouver, B.C.

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