Assessment of the FARSITE model for predicting fire behavior in the Southern Appalachian Mountains

Fuel reduction treatments are necessary in fire-adapted ecosystems where fire has been excluded for decades and the potential for severe wildfire is high. Using the Fire Area Simulator, FARSITE, we examined the spatial and temporal effects of these treatments on fire behavior in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. With measurements from temperature sensors during prescribed burns, we recreated the fires and compared fire behavior simulated by FARSITE with observed behavior. Following calibration, we simulated effects of different fuel reduction treatments on fire behavior. This paper assesses the potential use of FARSITE and the effects of fuel reduction treatments on fire behavior for the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

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