Large Outdoor Fires and the Built Environment (LOF&BE): Summary of Virtual Workshop

Published

November 4, 2020

Author(s)

Samuel L. Manzello, Sayaka Suzuki, Sara McAllister, Brian Lattimer, Daniel Gorham, Alexander Filkov, Maria Theodori, Xinyan Huang

Abstract

Two virtual workshops of the permanent working group, sponsored by the International Association for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS), entitled Large Outdoor Fires and the Built Environment (LOF&BE), were held this past August (2020). The first session was held on August 4, 2020 with times selected to suit those in Africa, Europe, and Asia/Oceania. The second session was held on August 6, 2020 with times to suit those in North and South America. The Ignition Resistant Communities (IRC) subgroup is focused on developing the scientific basis for new standard testing methodologies indicative of large outdoor fire exposures, including the development of necessary testing methodologies to characterize wildland fuel treatments adjacent to communities. IRC subgroup progress was presented by Alex Filkov (U Melbourne) and Daniel Gorham (IBHS). The Emergency Management and Evacuation (EME) subgroup is focused on developing the scientific basis for effective emergency management strategies for communities exposed to large outdoor fires. EME subgroup progress was presented by Maria Theodori (Reax Engineering Inc.) and Sayaka Suzuki (NRIFD). The Large Outdoor Fire Fighting (LOFF) subgroup is providing a review of various tactics that are used, as well as the various personal protective equipment (PPE), and suggests pathways for research community engagement, including environmental issues in suppressing these fires. LOFF subgroup progress was presented by Xinyan Huang (Hong Kong Poly U) and Brian Lattimer (Va Tech). An extended session was held for open discussion so that participants could provide feedback on current progress and offer suggestions for the upcoming LOF&BE workshop being organized as part of 13th IAFSS, now being held in April (2021). A total of 60 participants joined from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Zambia, UK, USA.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 1263

Report Number

1263

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

DOI Link

Keywords

Large outdoor fires, Virtual Workshop, IAFSS

Citation

Manzello, S. , Suzuki, S. , McAllister, S. , Lattimer, B. , Gorham, D. , Filkov, A. , Theodori, M. and Huang, X. (2020), Large Outdoor Fires and the Built Environment (LOF&BE): Summary of Virtual Workshop, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1263 (Accessed May 4, 2024)