In recent years, the world has witnessed a troubling surge in wildfires, a phenomenon closely linked to the escalating impacts of climate change. The recent devastating fires in Los Angeles serve as a stark reminder of this growing threat.
The risk of fires can be mitigated with preventive measures as part of sustainable forest management. In Uruguay, UPM Forestal Oriental – responsible for managing UPM’s eucalyptus plantations – has a dedicated sector and team for preventing and combating forest fires. Its main objectives are to protect company assets, carry out fire protection management, coordinate fire response operations and analyse fire events and monitor affected areas.
UPM has been successful in implementing a system based on the pillars of preventive silviculture and fuel management, i.e. taking care of the forests to reduce flammable material. Actions include the design of plantations, the inclusion of livestock grazing on forest lands, and the risk assessment of activities that can cause fires. At the same time, early detection of fire events allows for safe and efficient initial fire fighting operations with less damage to property and less risk to firefighters.
According to Rodolfo Beasley, Fire Management Coordinator, UPM Forestal Oriental, the detection and monitoring measures have developed significantly during the past decade or so – from lookout towers and detection flights to the current surveillance implemented with cameras and an AI system identifying and locating fire outbreaks.
“Through the Society of Forestry Producers, the detection system has been shared among Uruguayan forestry companies covering more than 95% of the forested area, as well as having shared resources for the initial combat, thus demonstrating the importance of working together in the detection and control of fires,” Beasley says.
Innovations help to improve safety
UPM's tree plantations in Uruguay are established in a mosaic pattern, consisting of several smaller forestry units. Beasely says that in addition to this being a legal requirement, ensuring blocks of trees of different ages and species, the design allows for internal and perimeter firebreaks that ensure accessibility when deploying ground firefighting resources.
“The compartmentalisation of the plantations and their separation from other areas such as native forests also reduces the affected areas and the spread of fires due to the variation in fuel loads and the possibility for isolating areas.”
Along the years, technological developments and innovations have made it easier to carry out fire prevention actions. For example, having quick access to updated cartography on mobile phones helps in managing the mechanical control of fuels, besides offering real-time information, for example, on environments, combat resources, and access roads. Also, access to online weather forecasts and satellite images at the field level improves communication and decision-making.
“In the surveillance, detection and monitoring phase, camera coverage of plantations has improved the detection times and accuracy of locating events in their early stages. Once a fire is consolidated, communications technology and GPS tracking of firefighting resources help to improve operational efficiency and safety,” Beasley explains.
Combating the challenges posed by climate change
Looking forward, the expected increase in extreme weather conditions such as droughts and high temperatures requires fire prevention operations to be even better prepared in the future.
“We will, for example, continue to improve our fuel management and maintain firewalls in good condition during high-risk periods. Other focus areas include training and educating personnel on all levels, and the continued coordination of actions with other operators and authorities to further strengthen the concepts of fire prevention,” Beasley concludes.
Text: Timo Nykänen
