Numerical Simulations of Two Wildfire Events Using a Combined Modeling System (HIGRAD/BEHAVE)

The ability to accurately forecast the spread of a wildfire would significantly reduce human suffering and loss of life, the destruction of property, and expenditures for assessment and recovery. To help achieve this goal we have developed a model which accurately simulates the interactions between winds and the heat source associated with a wildfire. We have termed our new model HIGRAD or High resolution model for strong GRA-Dient applications. HIGRAD employs a sophisticated numerical technique to prevent numerical Oscillations from occurring in the vicinity of the lire. Of importance for fire modeling, HIGRAD uses a numerical technique which allows for the use of a compressible equation set, but without the time-step restrictions associated with the propagation of sound-waves