Forest Fire Danger Rating Indicies Based on Climate - a Case Study of West Dehra Dun Forest Division

Abstract

With a view to study a possible correlation between occurrence and extent of fire and weather conditions, a case study was taken up in the forests or West Dehra Dun Forest Divison. Occurrence and extent of fire over a period of a decade (1968-1977) and weather conditions obtaining at the time of occurrence of forest fires, were critically examined. Mean temperature, average maximum temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, wind velocity etc. were the important weather parameters considered for analysis. The study indicates that a certain corelationship does exist between weather conditions and occurrance of fires. Based on the empirical knowledge, a Fire Danger Rating Index for the study area has been evolved.