Importance of Research

In order to manage and maintain Rhode Island's forests, it is essential to make an accurate assessment for the potential of wildland fires within the state. Each year, wildland fires burn hundreds of acres of Rhode Island's forests and may impinge on and threaten structures in the urban interface. Currently, there is no compiled resource that outlines fire danger based on fuel load, historical fires, population distribution, and transportation networks for the state of Rhode Island. This study will fill in the data gap and provide modeling capability for RIDEM in wildfire management.

Rhode Island's distribution of forested areas, population centers and transportation networks present a unique opportunity and challenge in the area of forest fire prediction, prevention and suppression. Rhode Island's 393,000 acres of forested land are networked with a transportation grid and distribution of population that is favorable to the early reporting of wildland fires. In addition, Rhode Island's transportation network facilitates rapid deployment of initial attack fire suppression and provides pre-made firebreaks.

Currently, Initial Attack wildland fire suppression in Rhode Island is handled by local fire companies with extended attack support provided by RIDEM in the form of forestry hose, type 6 engines and miscellaneous support equipment. The majority of wildland fire suppression in Rhode Island is done in the form of direct attack rather than by the construction of firebreaks or indirect attack due to the nature of Rhode Island wildland fires, rapid response times and training of suppression crews, and the availability of water and equipment.