Skip to Main Content

Navigation

Details

13-1-03-12
2013
08/01/2013
10/12/2017
Evaluating Spatiotemporal Tradeoffs Under Alternative Fuel Management and Suppression Policies: Measuring Returns on Investment
In this proposal, we outline a methodology for the application of a novel, integrated modeling approach to analyze economic tradeoffs associated with alternative fuel management and suppression policies. The analytical process is designed to specifically target salient questions regarding how the spatial and temporal scales of fuel treatment (and retreatment) influence treatment costs and subsequent cost effectiveness, measured in terms of both avoided suppression costs and reduced wildfire risk. Having both a spatial and temporal component enables a complete accounting of fuel and suppression impacts and enables a strategic, long-term perspective on wildfire risk mitigation.
In order to account for both spatial and temporal dimensions, we leverage existing models for landscape-scale simulation of the spatiotemporal dynamics of wildland fire occurrence, spread, and resulting fuel and vegetation changes in order to set the stage for life cycle economic analysis of fuel treatment strategies, as well as the costs and benefits of different fire suppression policies. Simulation modeling enables us to examine feedbacks between stochastic wildfire events, a set of manager-proposed treatment scenarios, different fire suppression policies, and subsequent effects on highly valued resources and assets (HVRAs) over both space and time, accounting for the effect of these events both in the stands where they take place, as well as off-site effects stemming from resultant changes in fire behavior. In this way, the effects of several proposed management scenarios can be compared, as well as effects of yet unobserved events (such as fires that are feasible during long stretches of extreme weather conditions). It is necessary to explore alternative landscape trajectories to fully understand how succession, fuel management, HVRAs, and suppression policies interact on fire-prone western landscapes.
Our economic analysis of these landscape trajectories and simulations will center on three primary threads. First, a comparative suppression cost analysis will examine estimated per-fire costs on landscapes with variable levels of fuel treatment and under differing suppression policies. Second, a comparative financial analysis of fuel treatments will project costs and revenues for fuel treatment strategies over a 100-year project horizon. These two components will allow us to compare the returns, in terms of avoided suppression costs, of a dollar invested in fuel treatments, in the long and short term. Lastly, a comparative exposure analysis will quantify wildfire likelihood and intensity for HVRAs under various landscape trajectories. Thus, our framework enables quantification of both market and non-market benefits of treatments, enabling more comprehensive cost effectiveness analyses.
Our team brings strong interdisciplinary expertise and research experience in fire and fuels modeling, wildfire economics, risk assessment, geospatial analysis, and suppression decision making. Particularly noteworthy is our team brings directly relevant experience modeling the effects of fuel treatments on risks and suppression costs (Ager et al. 2010; Thompson et al. 2012a). Connections to and active participation in ongoing efforts such as the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy and the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program put us in a unique position to leverage existing and emerging research and to rapidly disseminate findings broadly to the wildfire management community.
Matthew P. Thompson
Forest Service
RMRS-Rocky Mountain Research Station

Other Project Collaborators

Other Project Collaborators

Type

Name

Agency/Organization

Branch or Dept

Co-Principal Investigator

Karin L. Riley

Forest Service

RMRS-Forestry Sciences Lab-Missoula

Project Locations

Project Locations

Fire Science Exchange Network

California

Great Basin

Northern Rockies

Northwest

Pacific

South

Southern Rockies

Southwest

Level

State

Agency

Unit

REGIONAL

Interior West

FS

REGIONAL

Pacific Coast States

FS

Final Report

Project Deliverables

Title
 
California AgricultureView
Modeling alternative fire response policies: proof-of-concept and preliminary resultsView
Improved Spatial Fire Economics ModelingView
How might different wildfire response policies affect the landscape over time? Can we save money onView
Optimizing fuel treatments based on risk reduction and budget constraintsView
Managed Fire as a Fuel TreatmentView
Can landscape restoration and fire suppression cost savings be achieved via ecological fire responseView
Characterizing Uncertainty in Wildland Fire: Occurrence, Decision Making, and ManagementView
Fuel Treatment Leverage: Encounter Rates and Net Cost ImpactsView
Final Report SummaryView

Supporting Documents