No abstract

Fire behaviour is strongly affected by wind speed and direction. Wind affects fire spread rate bending the flames closer to unburnt fuel, increasing the rate of combustion and by blowing embers ahead of the main fire front lighting spotfires. Stronger winds blow flames forward, lowering the flame angle and subsequent distance between the flame and the fuel. In open areas there is typical a logarithmic vertical wind profile; winds become faster as height increases. However forest vegetation disrupts wind flow, and a logarithmic profile cannot be assumed.