The Canadian Wildfire Fuel Knowledge Base (CWFMKB) is meant to be used as a wildland fuel treatment decision support tool that provides users with relevant, up-to-date information on various fuel management options.

Users can access relevant information based on two leading factors:

1. 1. The predominant fuel type of the area
2. 2. The available treatment options to the user

The difference between these two sections is the information the user is starting with, but both are inter-connected and generally provide the same details.

As an example, a forest practitioner may know they are operating in a mature lodgepole pine leading stand but not know how best to include fuel management into their planning process. They could find such answers under the appropriate heading in FUEL TYPES, which would then link to the recommended fuel treatment and maintenance schedule.

Conversely, a machine operator seeking to expand their list of services into wildfire risk reduction may find more useful information under TREATMENT TACTICS, where specifics on fuel management operations are listed with equipment specifications and cost and productivity estimates where applicable.

Users may also upload their own information through the COLLABORATIVE LIBRARY, providing access to knowledge from real-world case studies, research projects, or trial activities that may otherwise lack avenues for public dispersal.

See below for more details on how to navigate each section.

FUEL TYPES

Forest fuels are combustible biomass (needles, twigs, logs, shrubs etc.) that influence wildfire behaviour. The arrangement, composition, density, homogeneity, and integrity of these fuels interact in unique ways that can make their management for wildfire mitigation difficult.

Despite this, decades of wildfire research have enabled grouping of specific fuel characteristics into what are termed "FUEL TYPES", and the Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour Prediction System (FBP) is widely used as the basis for fuel type identification and wildfire modeling. Though in need of updating to capture the array of forest types either missing or poorly represented across Canada, the FBP fuel type descriptors are referenced within the CWFMKB as starting points for users who may not be as familiar with the fuel type structure in their operating areas.

Navigating to a representative fuel type will allow users to determine if their treatment area falls under an existing label or if is not currently defined in the FBP system. Where the latter arises, users can use the COMPARE tool to directly note similarities or differences in associated TREATMENT TACTICS under each fuel type to better select an option that works for them.

Alternatively, users can identify their area of interest by predominant species using the DEFINE SITE tool, which allows them to select up to 5 representative species and an average stand age, and the CWFMKB will select a representative fuel type (or types) for the user to review.

Within each individual fuel type, users will find additional information related to species compositions, fire behaviour, and examples of deviations from the fuel type into another category (if they exist) based on available reference material.

TREATMENT TACTICS are listed in each fuel type based on their applicability in reducing wildfire risk, and projects submitted by users in the COLLABORATIVE LIBRARY are linked to enable easy access to relevant data for treatments performed in the given fuel type.

Images from user uploads and reference material are also available in the gallery to show visual representations of the fuel type to enhance field identification and promote fuel type updating where needed.

TREATMENT TACTICS

Wildland fuel treatments are generally defined as interventions that reduce or alter the fuel load of a given area to a level that reduces wildfire behaviour metrics to a degree that enables safe ground crew suppression (usually at or below 2000 kW/m fire intensity). However, the success of a fuel treatment is largely user-defined, typically supported by pre-treatment wildfire behaviour estimations and post-treatment data supporting appropriate reductions.

Though this system enables flexibility in treatment establishment, it limits comparative analyses between similar TREATMENT TACTICS where different data tracking methods were used. Until such a time where a consistent methodology is developed and enforced across Canada, the CWFMKB relies on various literature to attempt grouping treatment tactics into broader categories based on where, what, and how fuels are removed.

Similar to FUEL TYPES, the COMPARE tool can be used to quickly note rankings between TREATMENT TACTICS based on:

• ◆ Fire Behaviour — how effective is the treatment in wildfire risk reduction
• ◆ Implementation — how readily is the treatment deployed / used
• ◆ Economics — how cost-effective is the treatment
• ◆ Aesthetics — how well does the treatment meet visual quality objectives
• ◆ Ecological Function — are other ecosystem objectives considered / met

These criteria are then given a ranking:

• ◆ ★ - lowest ranking; symbolizes poor adherence to the criteria
• ◆ ★★ - low ranking; symbolizes limited adherence to the criteria
• ◆ ★★★ - moderate ranking; symbolizes adequate adherence to the criteria
• ◆ ★★★★ - high ranking; symbolizes improved adherence to the criteria
• ◆ ★★★★★ - highest ranking; symbolizes full adherence to the criteria

These rankings are meant to provide high-level information for users to quickly compare treatments, with more information presented in each individual tactic.

It is recognized that the given rankings may not always be reflective of treatments across Canada and that exceptions exist in each criteria, so users are advised to investigate further or provide commentary / projects of their own in the COLLABORATIVE LIBRARY. Rankings are subject to change should enough evidence be provided (either in user projects or as peer-reviewed literature) to support an update.

COLLABORATIVE LIBRARY

The CWFMKB is a collaborative platform where users have the ability to participate in knowledge sharing through public upload of research data, reports, forms, images, and various other media that either enhance the current reference lists or introduce new information lacking representation.

Submissions are welcome from all users but must include the appropriate details that are thoroughly reviewed prior to posting, including but not limited to:

• ◆ Geographic location (province/territory and approximate coordinates)
• ◆ Date of activity
• ◆ Forest stand metrics (species composition, density, height, age etc.)
• ◆ Predominant fuel type (following FBP system or recorded as "Undefined")
• ◆ Treatment tactic employed (using existing categories or filed as "Innovative Practice")
• ◆ Pre- and post-treatment wildfire metrics (where modeled)
• ◆ Pre- and post-treatment fuel loads (where measured; include method of data collection)
• ◆ Images (if any; include labels as needed)
• ◆ Contact details (for anyone seeking additional information)

UPDATES

Users can access information related to website updates as needed under the UPDATES tab. This function enables transparency in changes made and helps users track where / when information was updated and why.

REFERENCES

The reference section differs from the COLLABORATIVE LIBRARY in that it lists peer-reviewed documents, including but not limited to:

• ◆ Scientific literature
• ◆ Academic articles
• ◆ Research reports
• ◆ Conference proceedings
• ◆ Thesis publications

These documents are separate from user uploaded material with the understanding that the review process will differ between projects. Professional reliance is promoted, and users are expected to submit high-quality, appropriate information, but not every user has the ability to engage in the peer-review process. Rather than limit these users in participating with the platform, the separation in REFERENCES versus COLLABORATIVE LIBRARY was done such that users can quickly identify where the information is coming from and the anticipated review process behind it.