The RISE Fire Research on March 1st 2023, attended a prescribed burn in Haugesund, Norway, to learn more about heather fires and the controlling parameters that affect them. The event was organized by Lyngbrennerlauget in collaboration with the Haugalandet fire and rescue service and the DYNAMIC project at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.
The objective of the prescribed burn was to reduce fire risk in the WUI zone and restore the cultural landscape of the area. Max Gribble and Kemal Arsava studied the controlling parameters of the prescribed heathland fire, such as wind, relative humidity, and fuel conditions. They also observed the planning and execution of the prescribed burn in a safe and controlled manner.
The collected data will be used in the classification of heathland fires in Norway as part of the Norwegian pilot in TREEADS. This is the first of many controlled burns and fire service exercises that the TREEADS project will be observing and documenting during the Norwegian use case.
Norway is known for its stunning landscapes, fjords, and mountains. But it is also home to one of the world’s oldest traditions: prescribed burning of heather. For more than 5,000 years, coastal communities in Norway have been using fire to maintain the cultural landscape and reduce fire risk in the wildland-urban-interface (WUI) zone. The prescribed burning of heather is a vital part of Norway’s cultural landscape and history. It is a practice that has been passed down from generation to generation, and it continues to be relevant today. The use of fire in land management helps to maintain the health and diversity of ecosystems, reduce fuel loads, and minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
We would like to extend our gratitude to the organizers for their cooperation and warm welcome.
