Evaluating Potential Changes in Fire Risk from Eucalyptus Plantings in the Southern United States

Table 6

Effect of introducing a shrub layer on FCCS fire behavior potentials for 9 yr old eucalyptus plantation, as compared to a longleaf/slash pine stand with the shrub layer managed by periodic prescribed burning.

	9 yr old eucalyptus plantation	9 yr old eucalyptus plantation with shrub layer	Longleaf and slash pine forest with prescribed burning (FCCS 191)
Surface fire behaviour potential	6	7	7
Reaction potential	2.3	4	7.9
Spread potential	6.4	7.9	6.9
Flame length potential	2.8	4.2	5.7
Crown fire potential	6	6	2
Initiation potential	1.7	3.1	3.1
Transmissivity potential	8.9	8.9	0
Spread potential	8.6	9	2.7
Available fuel potential	4	4	2
Flame available fuel potential	3.6	3.9	1.4
Smoldering available fuel potential	0	0	0.4
Residual available fuel potential	0	0	0.1
FCCS fire potential code	664	764	722
Flame length (m)	0.61	1.31	2.44
Spread rate (m hr^−1)	184.71	248.7	217.63