What's New


What's new in Rural Fire Research?

Please sign up for Rural Fire Research email alerts if you would like to receive emails when there is news from the industry or the Rural Fire Research group.

 

November 2011

  1. Scion will be hosting a workshop in Rotorua on 22nd and 23rd of May. Click here for the FIRST Notice.  This 2 day workshop is based on celebrating 20 years of NZ Rural Fire Research.
  2. Rural Fire Research Update #9 - Future Fire Danger. [465 Kb, 4p.] This Research Update summaries the "Improved estimates of the effect of climate change on NZ fire danger" report. The aim of this study was to provide improved estimates of the effects of climate change on future fire danger for New Zealand.


 

October 2011

  1.  Annual Summary of Activities: 2010 - 2011. [161 Kb, 6p.] The Rural Fire Research team's annual summary of activities (based on the DOC annual report summarising key projects and outputs).

  2. Rural Fire Research Activities: July – September 2011.  [245 Kb, 3p.] Recent activities are summarised for the period July 2011 – September 2011.

  3. Rural Fire Research Update #8 - Fire Climate Severity.  [589 Kb, 4p.] This Research Update summaries the “Fire climate severity across New Zealand” report. The objective of this study was to provide improved information on fire climate severity across New Zealand. 

  4. Fire Technology Transfer Note # 41 What is the general public’s perception of rural fire danger communications?  [443 Kb, 6p.] The material documented in this Fire Technology Transfer Note (FTTN) summarises findings of a public survey used to explore the general public’s perception of rural fire danger communication.

  5. Fire Technology Transfer Note # 42 Mitigating the risk of human caused wildfires: literature review and stakeholder study. [445 Kb, 12p.] This Fire Technology Transfer Note summarises a report that suggests methods to mitigate the risks of human caused wildfires.

  6. Climate Report: Improved estimates of the effect of climate change on NZ fire danger. [1.85Mb, 84 p.]  This study provides improved estimates of fire danger for New Zealand under future climate.

  7. Climate Report: Fire climate severity across New Zealand. [4.47 Mb, 86p.] The objective of this study was to provide improved information on fire climate severity across New Zealand.

  8. Social Report: Mitigating the risk of human caused wildfires: literature review and stakeholder study.  [569 Kb, 63p.]  This report discusses those wildfires with a direct human cause, through malicious intent, or carelessness and accidents by recreationists and landowners.

 

 

April 2011

  1. Click here to read the Rural Fire Research group's Highlights from August 2010 until April 2011.
  2. Rural Fire Research Update #7 : Rural Firefighter Workload : by Richard Parker This research aims to improve the health and safety of rural firefighters by determining, under New Zealand operational conditions, the physiological workload of firefighting tasks.

 

 

March 2011

  1. February 2011 update was pre-empted by the Christchurch earthquake.
  2. Presentation and discussion material from the December 2010 Rural Fire Research workshop "Promoting Research Adoption" is now available online.
  3. Fire Technology Transfer Note #40 - Rory Renwick, DOC Warkworth, and Grant Pearce, Scion Christchurch, investigated fire behaviour at the Waiomu Fire which occurred on 28 January 2008, and assessed the impact that predicting and observing fire behaviour can have on fire suppression planning.
  4. Research Report 18088, by Sophie Hide, Dave Tappin, Lisa Langer and Stuart Anderson : Assessment of the general public's perception of rural fire danger communications, follows up on earlier studies into rural fire danger communication within New Zealand, and makes recommendations for improving fire danger communications.

 

 

November 2010

Scion and the National Rural Fire Authority (NRFA) will be hosting a workshop in Christchurch on 8th and 9th of December. Click here for Third Notice. This 2 day workshop is based on promoting industry uptake of rural fire research. Speakers from Australia and New Zealand will be presenting their research or use of research based on the 4 Rs : reduction, readiness, response and recovery. 

If you have not already done so, please register with Abi Davison (click here to email).

  1. Pamela J. Jakes, Laura Kelly, and E.R. (Lisa) Langer published a paper entitled "An exploration of a fire-affected community undergoing change in New Zealand", in  The Australian Journal of Emergency Management : Volume 25, No. 3, July 2010: 48-53.
  2. Richard Parker and Liz Ashby report on the project outcomes of physiological workload demands on rural firefighters in New Zealand (Client Report No. 18080). Click here to view and/or download the report.
  3. Click here to read the highlights of the Rural Fire Research group's 2009/2010 year.