 |
 |
Spot fires kilometres ahead of blaze2000 CSIRO experiementCSIRO - 25 Jan 2000
In 2000 CSIRO's Peter Ellis is using a novel, specially-built 12-metre tall vertical wind tunnel at CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products in Canberra to investigate the hazards of flying sparks and embers. A hot bushfire, a strong wind, and some species of gum tree can send flying sparks more than twenty-five kilometres ahead of the main blaze.CSIRO's Peter Ellis is using a novel, specially-built 12-metre tall vertical wind tunnel at CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products in Canberra to investigate the hazards of flying sparks and embers. His data will help fire managers predict how far ahead of a blaze 'spot fires' can break out."In the first study of eucalypt bark firebrands, I used the wind tunnel to study the behaviour of pieces of burning bark from messmate stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua)," says Peter Ellis. "This species, widely distributed through hilly country in south-eastern Australia, has a reputation for extensive spotting up to five kilometres out. The manna gum (E. viminalis) can send sparks five times this distance." |
