University of Alberta turns up heat on wildfire research
University of Alberta turns up heat on wildfire research
24 October 2012
published by http://cupwire.ca
Canada–– EDMONTON An increased prevalence of wildfires in Canada over the past decade is becoming a concern for many Canadians.
But a recently announced partnership between the University of Alberta and several other groups has ignited hope that something can be done to reduce instances of ferocious and costly fires that pose a danger to communities across the country.
The Western Partnership for Wildland Fire Science (WPWFS) was officially announced late last month as a formal agreement between Natural Resources Canada, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development and the University of Alberta. The agreement will allow for the groups to share resources while also collaborating on research initiatives. And for Mike Flanagan, a University of Alberta professor and Director of the WPWFS, the solidification of the partnership couldnt have come at a more appropriate time.
Area burned [in Canada] has doubled since the 1970s, Flannigan said. I attribute that to human caused climate change. Our climate is getting warmer, and a warmer climate generally leads to more fires. The bottom line is that our forest fuels are dryer, which means its easier for fires to start and spread.
“In a warmer world we are going to see more intense fires that are harder to put out. These changes will continue and that means that traditional methods of fire management may not work in the future.”
Every year in Canada, on average, more than 8,000 fires destroy 2 million hectares of forest every year. The costs of containing and extinguishing those fires alone costs fire agencies nearly $800 million, and Flannigan explains that those numbers can have skyrocketed in recent years in 2011 a single wildfire near Slave Lake cost $700 million.
Despite the rising economic costs and inherent dangers wildfires, Flannigan explained that there are very few researchers in Canada who are focused on learning about how to contain and fight ferocious fires.
“So we want to make [the WPWFS] a center for addressing fire problems both from a science perspective, and to help with the day-to-day operations of fire fighting, Flannigan said. Our fire management agencies are amongst the best in the world across Canada, but that doesnt mean that they cant improve. We are looking to see if they can be even more efficient, build better tools, and fight fires more effectively.
There are several initiatives that the newly founded partnership will focus on. Education, communication, and outreach will come together to form a cohesive strategy to mitigate the effects of ferocious wildfires.
Research, however, will be central to the partnership. Flannigan said that there are already 20 research projects underway focusing on everything from lightning strikes to fire behavior will be given additional funding.
Most of the money is going to graduate students, which I consider to be an excellent investment. They are tackling issues and we are training people at the same time. Its kind of a win-win situation. There could be breakthroughs that happen quickly, or it could just be another piece of the puzzle that could lead to breakthroughs in the future.
