Fire Webinar

Fire in Human Landscape

While trends in fire occurrence vary across the globe, researchers and managers are increasingly identifying the importance of understanding the interactions between landscape fire and human land use. Humans come in into contact with landscape fire in the densely settled and expanding wildland–urban interface (WUI), as well as in less-populated but modified agricultural and pastoral areas. The human impact in fire occurrence in these zones is complicated; there is the potential for greater ignitions, either accidental or deliberate, but also increased suppression, and the opportunity for fuel treatment and other vegetation and landscape planning activities to moderate fire occurrence and severity

In recent years, significant fires in a number of countries (for example, Australia, the United States of America, Greece and Chile) have impacted human lives, property, and infrastructure in human-modified landscapes. These events have drawn global attention to the interaction of landscape fire with human settlements and have provided novel research opportunities.

In this webinar we present research from three recent papers providing insights into the drivers and impacts of fire in human landscapes. Associate Professor Owen Price, from the University of Wollongong will discuss factors determining house loss associated with two wildfires in eastern Australia, and his findings on the importance of householder preparation and active defence. Dr Natalia Flores Quiroz from Stellenbosch University will present research on fires in informal settlements in South Africa and the similarity of their behaviour to wildfires. Finally, Professor Noam Levin from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem will present results from a satellite-based analysis of the drivers of Australia’s Black Summer fires, and conclusions regarding management actions that can reduce fire risk to communities.

We invite researchers and practitioners involved in studying and managing fire and its interaction with human settlements to join this webinar and discussion

Date: 24 February 2022

Time: 9:00am CET | 3:00am EST | 4:00pm CST Asia

Webinar ID: 851 9352 1676

Webinar Secretariat: fire.webinar@mdpi.com