Abstract:

In this paper, we studied the forest fuel and potential fire behavior in terms of average maximal wind speed derived from records in Weijiacun Forest Center from 2000 to 2006. The fuel types were classified into coniferous forest, broadleaf forest, mixed forest, and sparse forest based on forest inventory and sample plots. Vertical and horizontal distribution of the fuel was calculated from sample plots and tree biomass model, including fuel loading, thickness and height. Based on fuel distribution and wind simulation, fire spread rate, fire intensity, and flame height of surface fire and crown fire were calculated. The fuel loading was 81.93,57.46,107.02 and 51.92 t·hm^-2 ,and crown base height was 230.0, 200.0, 200.0, and 280.0 cm respectively in coniferous forest, broadleaf forest, mixed forest, and sparse forest. Surface fire spread rate was 0.1～0.22 m·s^-1, and crown fire spread rate was 012～2.25 m·s^-1. Surface fire line intensity was 144～6 595 kW·m^-1, and crown fireline intensity was 3 214～189 002 kW·m^-1. Flame height of surface fire was 0.37～2.50 m, and flame height of crown fire was 1.75～13.4 m. All above quantitative data were crucial in fuel management and fire safety issues.

Key words: fuel, fireline intensity, flame height, fire spread