Media Relations office
Los Alamos National Laboratory

Scientists in Los Alamos' Theoretical Division are developing a computer model to help battle wildland blazes. The research team is using computer techniques originally developed for nuclear weapons research to calculate the probable course of wildfires - valuable information that firefighters will be able to use to determine optimal deployment of fire-fighting resources. The computer model takes into account weather data, fuel conditions and terrain to show the most probable path of a fire, as well as show where spot fires and fire crowning could occur.

In addition, the code can be updated as it runs with different weather variables or changes in the fire's configuration and it will recalculate a series of alternate options for firefighters to consider. When complete, the code is expected to be a valuable tool that firefighters can use to minimize loss of life and property and maximize the effectiveness of resources and equipment when wildland blazes ignite.

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