Predicting behavior and size of crown fires in the northern Rocky Mountains

Describes methods for approximating behavior and size of a wind-driven crown fire in mountainous terrain. Covers estimation of average rate of spread, energy release from tree crowns and surface fuel, fireline intensity, flame length, and unit area power of the fire and ambient wind. Plume-dominated fires, which may produce unexpectedly fast spread rates even with low ambient windspeeds, are covered and supplemental methods suggested for estimating their occurrence. The spread information can be used to estimate and map fire area and perimeter.