Crown fuel consumption in Canadian boreal forest fires

Predictive crown fuel consumption models were developed using empirical data from experimental burning projects. Crown load for foliage, bark, branchwood and stemwood calculated live overstorey understorey trees in each plot nationally derived tree biomass algorithms. Standing dead similarly calculated. bulk density values all non-stemwood components. Factors that affect the initiation spread of fires (live base height, foliar moisture content, surface consumption, critical fire rate, intensity) components Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System not statistically significant variables. was moderately correlated with but an influential factor. A new model by regression analysis foliage standing branchwood, rate through fraction burned. simpler only spread. Both provide forest management agencies enhanced ability to determine behaviour carbon emissions boreal basic inventory or biomass/carbon datasets.