Project no. Fp6-018505 Project Acronym fire paradox

5Analysis of Fire Detection Systems efficiency in southwestern europe

Overview

In this chapter, we present the results regarding the detection systems efficiency in the Iberian Peninsula. This area was selected because it is the European region with the highest density of wildfires (EC, 2006). We focused our analysis on the temporal and spatial patterns of 160,822 wildfire detections in Portugal, and 131,798 wildfire detections in Spain occurred during a seven-year period (from 2001 to 2007). For this Iberian analysis, four main sources of alert were considered in both countries: population, ground fixed detection systems, ground mobile detection systems, and aerial detection systems. In the case of Portugal it was possible to separate population into two categories: population alerts done through emergency call numbers (112, 117) and other population alerts.

We concluded that in Portugal, population was responsible for 88.4% of all fire detections (12.2% by emergency numbers and 76.2% by other means), followed by ground fixed detection systems (10.6% of detections), ground mobile systems (0.9%), and aerial systems (only 0.01%) (see figure 33). In Spain, population was responsible for 55.9% of all fire detections, followed by ground fixed detection systems (27.6% of detections), ground mobile systems (16.0%), and aerial systems (0.6%) (see figure 34).

Figure 33. Main systems responsible by wildfire detections in Portugal during the period 2001-2007.

Figure 34. Main systems responsible by wildfire detections in Spain during the period 2001-2007.

Comparing the results from Spain and Portugal, we concluded that in both countries most of wildfires were detected by population, although in Portugal population was much more important (88.4%) than in Spain (55.9%). The official detection systems are still very important but play a secondary role, especially in Portugal, where they were responsible for only 11.6% of detected wildfires (44.1% in Spain). The ground fixed detection system was the second most important source of fire alert in both countries, although in Spain it had a much higher relative importance on fire detection than in Portugal (27.6% in Spain and 10.6% in Portugal). In Portugal the ground mobile systems were responsible for only 0.9% of all fire detections, and in Spain they were responsible for 16.0% of all fire detections, but like lookouts they can be much more important at the regional level. In both countries the aerial systems were the system responsible for fewer fire detections (only 0.01% in Portugal and 0.6% in Spain). In terms of the official fire detection systems (thus excluding population), lookouts are the most important source of fire alert both in Portugal and Spain, followed by the mobile terrestrial brigades and at last by the aerial systems.

5.1Temporal patterns of fire detections

Annual distribution

In Portugal, during the period analysed (2001-2007), population was always by far the primary source of alert, in spite of some annual variations (figure 35). Population detections communicated through emergency numbers started in 2002 and from 2005 became the second most important source of alert. The importance of the ground fixed detection systems was relatively constant until 2005, but decreased substantially in 2006 and 2007.

Figure 35. Annual contribution of each main fire detection system in Portugal from 2001 to 2007.

In Spain population was also the primary source of alert during the period analysed, and in spite of some annual variations, their importance tended to consistently increase, reaching a maximum in 2007. On the other hand, the importance of the ground fixed detection systems showed a tendency to decrease during this period, reaching a minimum in 2007 (figure 36).

Figure 36. Annual contribution of each main fire detection system in Spain (period 2001-2007).

Monthly distribution

In Portugal population detections constitutes the most important fire alert source all year round, and population detections communicated through emergency numbers constitutes the second most important fire alert source during most part of the year, excepting the summer months (July to September) when ground fixed detection systems are activated and becomes the second most important alert source (figure 37).

Figure 37. Monthly relative importance of each fire detection systems in Portugal (period 2001-2007).

In Spain population detections constitutes the most important fire alert source during all months, decreasing specially during the summer months (July to September) and during winter (December to February), when ground fixed and mobile detection systems increase their relative importance as alert sources (figure 38).

Figure 38. Monthly relative importance of each fire detection systems in Spain (period 2001-2007).

Hourly distribution

In Portugal population is the main source of fire detection at any hour of the day. Between 10 and 16h the ground fixed and ground mobile detection systems increase their importance in fire detection. In that period (also corresponding to the period when more fires occur) ground fixed detection system is the second in terms of number of fires detected; however during the remaining hours the second position belongs to population emergency numbers (figure 39).

Figure 39. Relative importance of each main fire detection systems in Portugal along the day.

In Spain at least half of all fires are detected by population at any hour of the day. Between 11 and 20h the ground fixed and ground mobile detection systems play a more importance role in fire alert, representing near half of all detections (figure 40). In that period (also the period when more fires occur) ground fixed detection system is the second in terms of number of fires detected, followed by the ground mobile systems.

Figure 40. Relative importance of each main fire detection systems in Spain along the day.