Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Risk
Project owner
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Department of Safety, Chemistry and Biomedicalaboratory sciences
Project categories
Applied Research
Basic Research
Project period
January 2016 - December 2024
Project summary
The Flatanger Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fire in January 2014 was the worst fire in Norway since 1923 with respect to the number of lost buildings. This project analyses the conditions that led to this large fire. This involves changes in agricultural activities, aging and succession of the Calluna vulgaris (heather) dominated landscape, climate changes, drying of potential biofuel as well as fire buffer zones. The project shall develop risk warnings and risk mitigating measures and support civic group activities reducing the WUI fire risk in coastal Norway.
Method
The methods will span from analyzing past weather conditions, agricultural activities, current weather conditions and current succession in the (previously) Calluna dominated landscapes to transport mechanisms (drying), fire dynamics, interviews and studies of civic prescribed burning groups.