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Risk quantification (Work Package 1)

From fire risk to fire behaviour and impact
The risk of fire to communities is a combination of various environmental and socio-economic factors, before, during and after fire.

Leader: Nick Kettridge (University of Birmingam)

Objectives: quantifying fire danger and vulnerability, characterising (mega)fire behaviour and its drivers, and determining environmental and economic impact of fires. Specifically, to quantify fire risk from an environmental and socio-economic perspective by 1) quantifying fire danger and vulnerability, 2) characterising (mega)fire behavior and its drivers, and 3) determining environmental and economic impact of fires.

These are the topics tackeld in WP1:

  • Fire risk awareness. Research developed by Carmen Rodríguez (ESR1) at the European Forest Institute, including secondments at Águas de Portugal and DEMETER.
  • Fire danger. Research developed by Kerryn Little (ESR2) at the University of Birmingham, including secondments at the Univesrity of Alberta and Tecnosylva.
  • Megafire behaviour.  
    – Tomás Quiñones (ESR3) at Tecnosylva, including secondments at the WildfireTacAd and at the Universidade de Trás-osMontes e Alto Douro. More about his research here.
    – Mariña Fernández (ESR4) at the Universidade de Trás-osMontes e Alto Douro, including secondments at Tecnosylva and University of Alberta. More about her research here.
  • Environmental impacts: Fire effects on carbon flows and water quality. 
  • Fire impact on water and economies. Research developed by Sarah Meier (ESR6) at the University of Birmingham, including secondments at Arup and DEMETER.

Risk reduction (Work Package 2)

From small to large scale, and from individuals to agencies
Reducing fire risk and vulnerability can be done at multiple scales and by different actors.

Leader: Guillermo Rein (Imperial College London)

Objectives: creating the first European Firewise guidelines, and novel approaches to fire resilient landscape design, fire prevention and fire resilient governance. Specifically, to assess wildfire risk reduction potential from small to large scale and individuals to agencies, by 1) creating a science base for the first European Firewise guidelines for design of homes and their immediate surroundings, 2) developing novel fire resilient landscape design based on water management, 3) assess ways to increase implementation of fire prevention and fire resilient governance.

These are the topics tackeld in WP2:

  • Home ignition zone. Research developed by Simona Dossi (ESR7) at the Imperial College, including secondments at the NFPA and the Building Research Institute.
  • How to mitigate fire propagation in Wildland-Urban Interface vegetation and impact on building. 
  • Implementation of approaches
  • Strengthen the profile of fire prevention. Research developed by Hugo Lambrechts (ESR10) at the University of Wageningen, including secondments at the European Forest Institute and Arup.
  • Promote Fire-resilient governance. Research developed by Judith Kirschner (ESR11) at the European University Cyprus, including secondments at the University of Birmingham and FAO.

Risk communication (Work Package 3)

Exchange, engagement and communication
True implementation of a living with fire approach requires exchange, engagement and communication.

Leader: Miriam Arenas (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya)

Objectives: stimulating resilience and preparedness through interagency exchange, trans-disciplinary research, and engagement of vulnerable communities. Specifically, focusing on management of risks, by developing a transdisciplinary approach for fire research, aligning interagency exchange, engaging vulnerable communities at risk, and communicating with communities about risks.

These are the topics tackeld in WP3:

  • Transdisciplinary approach for fire research. Research developed by Kathleen Uyttewaal (ESR12) at the Pau Costa Foundation, including secondments at the University of Wageningen and the New Zealand Forest Research Institute.
  • Interagency exchange. Research developed by Pooja Pandey (ESR13) at the European University Cyprus, including secondments at the FireAID and Tecnosylva.
  • Engaging vulnerable communities at risk. Research developed by Alexandre Molina (ESR14) at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, including secondments at at the NFPA and the New Zealand Forest Research Institute.
  • Communicating with communities about risks. Research developed by Isabeau Ottolini (ESR15) at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, including secondments at at the NFPA and the European Forest Institute.