Forests have been an integral part of our ecosystem ever since the advent of human race on the planet and have played a crucial role in the social, economic and religious activities of human civilization in countless ways, since ancient times. The most prevalent and threatening hazard in forests is the forest fires. Forest fires have been an indigenous issue having global impact and implications, and they are bound to aggravate in the near future as a result of the adverse effects of escalating temperature and global warming. The book on ‘Forest Fire: Characteristics and Management’ embodies seven chapters providing an updated comprehensive information on history, causes & types, characteristics & behaviour, effects of fire on ecosystem dynamics i.e., plant, community, ecosystem, wildlife and soils, damaging & beneficial effects, prediction & management and, prevention & control of forest fires. In each chapter the readers will find complete information aptly backed by authentic data, examples and illustrations. Chapter eight is dedicated to bibliography. This book will be useful to students and researchers as a part of their curriculum and for forest managers/officials and planners as an important guide for managing forest fires. The readers will find comprehensive and practical information on forest fires as well as methodologies to analyse the cause-and-effect relationships besides a precise procedure on control measures.

Dr. Bhupender Gupta, Dean, College of Forestry, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Er. Ghanshyam Agrawal, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Dr. Anjali Chauhan, Assistant Professor, Department of Soil Science, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Foreword by Dr. Parvinder Kaushal                                                                  

Foreword by Dr. Rakesh Chandra Agrawal                                                    

Preface                                                                                                                           

About the Authors                                                                                                      

1. Introduction: An Overview                                                                                           

2. Incidences, Causes and Types of Forest Fire

2.1 Incidences of Forest Fire

2.2 Causes of Forest Fire

2.3 Types of Forest Fire

3. Forest Fire: Characteristics and Behaviour        

3.1 Forest Fire Characteristics

3.2 Forest Fire Behaviour

3.3 Fire Regimes

3.4 Fire Behaviour Models

4. Forest Fire and Ecosystem Dynamics   

4.1 Effect of Fire on Plants

4.2 Effect of Fire on Forest Diversity

4.3 Effect of Fire on Natural Regeneration

4.4 Effect of Fire on Forest Ecosystem

4.5 Effect of Fire on Wildlife

4.6 Effect of Forest Fire on Soil

5. Forest Fire: Damages       

5.1 Adverse Effects of Forest Fire

5.2 Beneficial Effects of Forest Fire

5.3 Post-Fire Recovery of Plants

6. Forest Fire Prediction and Management       

6.1 Forest Fire Prediction

6.2 Types of Modelling

6.3 Forest Fire Management System

7. Fire Prevention and Control 

7.1 Fire Management Strategies

7.2 Fire Prevention and Control Manual

7.3 Fire Prevention Policy

7.4 Fire Control Procedure

Bibliography                                                                                                                

Index