Byram Fireline Intensity kW/m
Compute Byram heat-yield×consumed-fuel×front-spread fireline intensity using supplied dry fuel consumption, not full fuel load or a fire-danger/response recommendation.
Description
Byram fireline intensity is energy-release rate per unit length of fire front.
Byram fireline intensity is energy-release rate per unit length of fire front. It uses consumed dry fuel in the flaming front rather than the entire fuel inventory.1, 2
Compute Byram heat-yield×consumed-fuel×front-spread fireline intensity using supplied dry fuel consumption, not full fuel load or a fire-danger/response recommendation.
When to use Byram Fireline Intensity kW/m
Use this tool to compute Byram heat-yield×consumed-fuel×front-spread fireline intensity using supplied dry fuel consumption, not full fuel load or a fire-danger/response recommendation.
Gather the tree inventory, plot measurements or model parameters. Check diameter, area, time and moisture conventions; keep paired observations aligned.
How to use Byram Fireline Intensity kW/m and understand its results
- Gather the tree inventory, plot measurements or model parameters. Check diameter, area, time and moisture conventions; keep paired observations aligned.
- Enter effectiveHeatYieldKjPerKg, consumedFuelDryKgPerM2, fireFrontSpreadMPerSecond using the field table and calculation rules, then run the tool.
- Read byramFirelineIntensityKwPerM. The explanation below defines the units, signs, ordering and any flags or placeholder values.
- If the tool reports an input issue, correct the values and run it again. Apply the stated assumptions when interpreting a successfully returned result.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type; see rules below | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| effectiveHeatYieldKjPerKg | Effective heat yield kj per kg | number | Required |
| consumedFuelDryKgPerM2 | Consumed fuel dry kg per m2 | number | Required |
| fireFrontSpreadMPerSecond | Fire front spread m per second | number | Required |
Enter positive effective heat yield and nonnegative consumed fuel and spread rate. Multiply in the declared units and return kW/m; zero consumption or spread gives zero.
intensity kW/m=heat yield kJ/kg × consumed kg/m² × front spread m/s Units, indexing, boundary conditions and exceptional cases are defined in the calculation rules above.
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| byramFirelineIntensityKwPerM | Byram fireline intensity kw per m | number |
{
"input": {
"effectiveHeatYieldKjPerKg": 10000,
"consumedFuelDryKgPerM2": 0.5,
"fireFrontSpreadMPerSecond": 0.1
},
"output": {
"byramFirelineIntensityKwPerM": 500
}
}Limitations and assumptions
Fuel consumption and spread are supplied. The result is not a fire-danger classification or response recommendation.
Numeric inputs and returned numeric values must be finite; an unrepresentable returned value produces an error. Missing required fields, extra fields, wrong value types and violations of the calculation rules are input errors.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use Flame Length From Fireline Intensity: Apply supplied unit-specific fireline-intensity/flame-length calibration inside its domain; no universal coefficient or tactics/safe-distance determination. For a complementary task, use Crowning Initiation Foliar Moisture Threshold Checker: Evaluate named Van Wagner crown-initiation critical-intensity equation using canopy base height and dry-basis foliar moisture; exceeding this model threshold is not proof of active crown fire or an operational safety assessment.
Further background: Assessing crown fire potential by linking models of surface and crown fire behavior.
References
-
Byram Fireline Intensity kW/m — tool.io
-
Assessing crown fire potential by linking models of surface and crown fire behavior — USDA Forest Service
Similar or alternative tools
- Flame Length From Fireline Intensity
Apply supplied unit-specific fireline-intensity/flame-length calibration inside its domain; no universal coefficient or tactics/safe-distance determination.
- Crowning Initiation Foliar Moisture Threshold Checker
Evaluate named Van Wagner crown-initiation critical-intensity equation using canopy base height and dry-basis foliar moisture; exceeding this model threshold is not proof of active crown fire or an operational safety assessment.