DEVELOPING RAPID RESPONSE INSTRUMENTATION PACKAGES TO QUANTIFY STRUCTURE IGNITION MECHANISMS IN WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE (WUI) FIRES

摘要

Rapidly deployable instrumentation packages are being developed to be used during actual WUI fires to quantify structure ignition mechanisms. The packages are being designed to be placed near a given structure in the WUI and will provide video imaging of a structure at different vantage points as well as quantitative data on heat flux, wind speed, and relative humidity. Prior to attempting to use these instrumentation packages in real WUI fires, a series of proof-of-concept tests were conducted under prescribed fires. In these tests, a shed was used as a surrogate for a typical structure that would be found in the WUI. This presentation will focus on instrumentation package development and results from a recent deployment in a prescribed fire at Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area in the State of New Jersey.