Determining hazard risk indices for Mediterranean forest species based on particle flammability properties

The scope of this paper is to evaluate and combine various thermochemical parameters derived from lab scale, analytical scale fire tests and field data (i.e., calorific values, flame spread rate at different inclinations, flame intensity values, meteorological data and elementary composition) for determining risk indices to quantify particle flammability components of Mediterranean forest species. Two indices were calculated: (a) Bioclimatic Flammability Index (BFI), based on meteorological data and calorific values and (b) Flammability Inclination Index (FII), based on flame spread rate values at different inclinations. Elemental analysis data have only a minor contribution to the overall flammability index and they can be neglected. The resulting indices can be very useful to estimate fire hazard and fight forest fires effectively. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.