Abstract:

Based on data of forest fire statistics in Beijing from 1986 to 2006, a temporal and spatial distribution pattern of the forest fires was analyzed by using the statistic analysis and GIS spatial analysis methods. Results indicated that annual forest fires varied significantly from 1986 to 2006, but the general trend was gradually declining. Beijing forest fires were mainly occurred in the spring. The daily pattern of the forest fires roughly exhibited a saddle-shape, and the two peaks respectively were at 11:00 and 14:00. The spatial distribution characteristics of the forest fires were obvious: Most forest fire sites lay in the edge zone between the plain and the surrounding mountains. There was an irregular distribution of the forest fires in each district and county. The farther from the road, the less the forest fires occurred. However, in some small parts, there was no regular in the number of forest fires. In addition to woodland, grassland, arid land, rural residents and other areas surrounding woodland were also places for fire ignitions to form forest fires. It is suggested that forest fire prevention education should be developed; forest fire prevention organizations should be further improved, the infrastructure and related work of fire prevention should be strengthened to improve the overall forest fire prevention capacity of our capital according to the pattern and the characteristics of the forest fires.

Key words: forest fire, Beijing, spatial and temporal distribution pattern