Trent D. Penman, Luke Collins, Alexandra D. Syphard, Jon E. Keeley, Ross A. Bradstock

PLOS ONE

Published date October 1, 2014

Influence of Fuels, Weather and the Built Environment on the Exposure of Property to Wildfire

  • Examines the drivers of wildfire in southern California coastal chaparral ecosystems
  • Finds that weather is the main driver for the size of early season (i.e. spring and fall) wildfires in these landscapes
  • Notes that "it is well documented that fire weather strongly influences fire size, the rate of spread, spotting distance, fire intensity and severity. As a result, wildfires burning under extreme conditions account for the majority of area burnt for many regions. Furthermore, it is under extreme fire weather conditions wildfires pose the greatest threat to people and property"