Anderson, Hal E. Predicting wind-driven wild land fire size and shape. Res. Pap. 

 INT-305. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Inter- 

 mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station; 1983. 26 p. 



Documents the analysis of wind tunnel experiments on fire spread that pro- 

 duced a double ellipse concept of fire area growth. This provides ways of 

 estimating size (area), shape (perimeter), and length to width ratio of a wind- 

 driven wild land fire. The only inputs needed are estimates of the windspeed 

 and the expected fire spread distance. Equations are available to estimate flank 

 and backing fire rates of spread. Graphs show the relationship of wind to fire 

 size and shape properties. Fire growth in terms of perimeter and area is 

 available to aid fire management activities involving treatment or suppression. 



KEYWORDS: fire growth, modeling, fire behavior 



