In Australia, the degree of grassland curing (senescence) is an essential component in fire-behaviour models and in Grassland Fire Danger Index (GFDI) calculations. Methodologies used to assess grassland curing and fire behaviour vary between states and territories. Such variation causes inconsistent GFDI values across the continent, and inhibits the continuity of GFDI values at state/territory borders. Additionally, inaccurate assessments of curing provide imprecise information for modelling fire behaviour and determining fire danger ratings.

In Victoria, from 2010 to 2014, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) improved and automated methods to accurately assess grassland curing. A growing network of 200+ observers was established and supported by online training to produce accurate ground-based curing observations. A new satellite-based model and an automated online system were developed and deployed. The system combines satellite and ground-based data to produce weekly curing maps used operationally during the fire season. Finally, experimental grassland burns were conducted to improve the understanding of the curing function for grassland fire behaviour models.

Since 2014, CFA has collaborated with fire agencies from multiple jurisdictions, supported by the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department National Emergency Management Projects, to improve methodologies of grassland fuel assessment across Australia. As a trial to improve GFDI calculations, grassland-curing datasets have been produced for multiple states and territories, and will be accommodated with a pilot trial of the online system. In collaboration with CSIRO, further experimental burns will be conducted to improve assessments of fire behaviour at different levels of curing and fuel load.  

The combined efforts of the project will improve the accuracy and continuity of GFDI calculations across Australia, and will result in more accurate and spatially representative grass fuel information being used in fire behaviour prediction and fire danger indices.