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Fuel management references and literature

Last updated on February 25, 2026

Learn about research into fire and fuel management.

Wildfire fuel treatment interaction reports

The BC Wildfire Service is committed to improving fuel management through continuous learning and evidence-based review.

The following reports examine how fuel treatments affect fire behaviour and support firefighting efforts. They document observations, outcomes and key lessons learned to help guide future fuel management planning. Sharing this information supports ongoing improvement and helps build more wildfire-resilient communities and landscapes across British Columbia.

2025

Alexis Creek - C50222
Bridalveil Creek - N70296 (PDF, 547KM)
Wesley Ridge - V71145 (PDF, 511KB)
Munro - K52192 (PDF, 563KB)

2024

Shetland Creek - K70910 (PDF, 354KB)
Ponderosa FSR - N51069 (PDF, 388KB)
Mulvey Creek - N51117 (PDF, 511KB)
Lower Blue Mountain - K51866 (PDF, 505KB)
Komonko Creek - N51210 (PDF, 458KB)
Baynes Lake - N12478 (PDF, 621KB) 

2023

Knox Mountain - K51040 (PDF, 512KB)
Kookipi - V11337 (PDF, 504KB) 

Case Studies

  • Assessing fuel treatment effectiveness: A case study from the Nohomin Creek wildfire encroachment on the community of Stryen 9 (PDF, 2.1MB)
    • On July 14, 2022, the Nohomin Creek wildfire ignited and spread towards the Lytton First Nation community of Stryen 9. The fire moved into this community from the south through areas treated over the previous few years. This case study focuses on fire behaviour in the fuel treatment area from the ignition time, at approximately 1215h to 2100h. 
  • Assessing fuel treatment effectiveness: A case study from the Lytton Creek wildfire encroachment on the First Nation community of Nicomen (PDF, 7.2MB)  
    • On June 30, 2021, the Lytton Creek wildfire ignited and quickly spread towards the Village of Lytton. After consuming large portions of the Village of Lytton, Lytton First Nations and adjacent communities, the fire continued to spread along the Thompson River valley. By the morning of July 19, the Lytton Creek wildfire was positioned along the ridge line west of the First Nation community of Nicomen. Nicomen Indian Band has adopted a pro-active forest fuel reduction treatment program as part of a wildfire risk reduction strategy. This case study forms a component of a larger research initiative to assess the effectiveness of fuel treatments in moderating fire behaviour and/or improving the potential for successful suppression operations. 

  • Assessing fuel treatment effectiveness: A case study of the White Rock Lake wildfire encroachment on the community of Westshore Estates (PDF, 2.4MB)

    • On July 13, 2021, the White Rock Lake wildfire (K61884) was detected 55 km west of Vernon, British Columbia. The fire grew over the next three weeks, with a major spread event on August 5, pushing the fire northward. The fire jumped Highway 97 and destroyed several homes and other values in Monte Lake. On August 6, wind pushed the fire toward the community of Westshore Estates, approximately 15 km west of Vernon. The high-intensity fire spread downslope toward a fuel treatment area south of the community. As the fire moved through the fuel treatment area, fire behaviour was moderated to such an extent that no structures were lost as the fire approached the community. At the time of the fire’s encroachment on the fuel treatment area, few resources were available. The fire’s approach toward Westshore Estates was mostly unimpeded by suppression interventions. This case study illustrates how high-intensity fire spread can be moderated in fuel-reduced forest stands.

  • Logan Lake Case Study - Wildfire/fuel treatment encounters: Assessing fuel treatment effectiveness. (PDF, 2MB)

    • ​On August 14, 2021, the Tremont Creek wildfire threatened the community of Logan Lake, British Columbia, when the high-intensity wildfire approached from the north. A wind shift mid-afternoon on August 14 pushed the fire head toward the east with flanking fire spreading toward Logan Lake. Late in the afternoon, extensive aerial suppression operations were conducted to reinforce forest fuel reduction treatment areas on three sides of the community. Later in the evening, suppression crews incorporated fuel treatments in a successful burnout operation to reinforce a control line that had been created by heavy equipment and hand crews. This case study presents the fire chronology with fuel, weather and topographic conditions that impacted fire behaviour. A key objective of this case study is to examine how fuel treatments modified fire behaviour or were strategically used to support and enhance suppression operations.

Reports

Resources

Literature

Learn more about fire behaviour

  • Alexander Martin E. and Cruz Miguel G.. Evaluating the 3-m tree crown spacing guideline for the prevention of crowning wildfires in lodgepole pine forests, Alberta. The Forestry Chronicle. 96(02): 165-173. https://doi.org/10.5558/tfc2020-021
  • Cruz Miguel G., Alexander Martin E. (2010) Assessing crown fire potential in coniferous forests of western North America: a critique of current approaches and recent simulation studies. International Journal of Wildland Fire 19, 377-398. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF08132
  • Koo Eunmo, Pagni Patrick J., Weise David R., Woycheese John P. (2010) Firebrands and spotting ignition in large-scale fires. International Journal of Wildland Fire 19, 818-843. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF07119
  • Lydersen, J.M., Collins, B.M., Brooks, M.L., Matchett, J.R., Shive, K.L., Povak, N.A., Kane, V.R. and Smith, D.F. (2017), Evidence of fuels management and fire weather influencing fire severity in an extreme fire event. Ecol Appl, 27: 2013-2030. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1586

Learn more about fire management

  • Pyke, D.A., Brooks, M.L. and D'Antonio, C. (2010), Fire as a Restoration Tool: A Decision Framework for Predicting the Control or Enhancement of Plants Using Fire. Restoration Ecology, 18: 274-284. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00658.x

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