Adaptation of the United States Fire Danger Rating System to Fynbos Conditions.

Abstract

Fire danger indices from nine weather stations in the Fynbos Biome were obtained using historic weather data and a fynbos fuel model as inputs for the United States National Fire Danger Rating System. The indices produced were compared with the occurrence of recorded wild-fires. The system proved sufficiently robust to reflect the expected fire danger patterns in the biome accurately. A unimodal cycle of high fire danger in summer and low in winter is prevalent in the west and a bimodal pattern of high fire danger in summer and winter occurs in the south-east. Fire size correlated well with high fire danger. Some uses of the system are discussed and adoption of the system is recommended.