Parts of Scotland receive some of the highest levels of rainfall in Europe, but we also experience periods of intense drying when the danger of wild fires can be severe.

Wildfires cause significant damage to agricultural, forestry, biodiversity, recreational and sporting interests, and threaten infrastructure, property, and life

Wildfires place a significant operational and cost burden on the Fire and Rescue Service, directly in fighting wildfires, and in the requirement to redeploy resources to maintain geographic coverage

The aim of the project is to contribute to the development of a Fire Danger Rating System for the Scottish environment and vegetation

Wildfires destroy large and small with impunity

Wildfires destroy large and small with impunity

Understanding how fires become established and spread in complex vegetation is challenging

The project is carrying out field studies to examine fires spread in Scottish vegetation types (Andy Taylor discussing vegetation characteristics with Rory Hadden and colleagues)

Determining the quantities and moisture contents of different fuels are integral to modelling potential fire risks

Numerous weather, vegetation and soil parameters are included within the rating system model to predict the level of fire risk.