 FireStem is a computer model designed to aid fire managers in predicting tree mortality based on fire behavior and intensity. The eventual goal is to link FireStem and BehavePlus to produce mortality predictions based on fuel information, moisture, and fire behavior for a specified region and a range of tree species.
FireStem is based on fundamental thermodynamics and heat transfer taking into account the thermophysical properties of individual species in order to predict temperature at the living tissue or cambium. Eventually, the user will be able to input a range of species for a given ecosystem, run FireStem and review the mortality prediction for a range of diameters for each species. To date, we have developed and validated FireStem for four species, Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine, Chestnut Oak, and Red Maple. The mortality predictions used in FireStem are based on recent work by Dr. Matthew Dickinson at the USFS Northeastern Research Station and include the latest understanding of cambial tissue response to thermal injury. Other species will be added as their thermophysical properties are identified and validated.
Experiments
FireStem was evaluated by comparison with experimental data designed to illustrate the extent of thermal damage on stems. Two types of stem heating experiments were performed, Rope Burns and Plot Burns. Rope burns were conducted in the laboratory using stem sections of each of the four species. Plot burns were conducted in the field during research prescribed burns in Montana, Ohio and Arizona.
Downloads
FireStem requires 6MB of memory and can be run on Windows 98, 2000 and NT.
Click on the site below and follow the download instructions.
NOTE: Window 2000 users must have administrator privileges to download the program.
 Download the .zip file here (3MB)
Publications
We currently have two paper published in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research and one in review in the International Journal of Wildland Fire. Click on the site below and navigate to the author "Butler, B.". Continue to check the site for future publications.
Click here to view stem heating articles.
Contacts
Dr. Brett Butler
Team Leader
Fire Behavior Project
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering
406-329-4801
bwbutler@fs.fed.us
Dan Jimenez
Research Engineer
Fire Behavior Project
Chemical Engineer
406-329-4724
djimenez@fs.fed.us
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