Wildland Firebrands-Related Risk Assessment

Abstract

Wildfires become larger and more intense, and their impact on the built environment is also significant due to sociological, economic and climatic changes. This thesis focuses on the hot particles lofted and drawn from burning vegetation (firebrands) and to the risk they can pose to buildings. Based on the current state of knowledge and technological capabilities, the thesis proposes a methodology involving spatial analysis solution (i) to identify areas potentially affected by these firebrands in case of a wildfire for use in a geographic information system. Resulting map with buildings at risk from firebrands serves for prioritization of communal and vegetation management policy. An individual building assessment (ii) is developed to identify and treat the most vulnerable points on or around these buildings to protect them from heat transfer from firebrands. The assessment is aimed to provide background for decision making and management processes.