Abstract

A new method is proposed and applied to determine areas at risk of forest fires produced by the combination of three territorial variables: the spatial localization of the fires, the road network, and areas with an urban-wildland interface. An area in central Chile, at latitude 33°S, was used as a case study in which variables were analyzed using fuzzy logic. As a result, irregular areas were identified that represented the combined effects of these criteria. In practice, the spatial effects of the model used reflected the size and shape of areas with greater forest fire incidence and loss. This combination of variables produced increases in critical area intersections of between +66.02% and +252.09%, associated with areas of greater fire severity. The combined effects of these criteria allowed layers of geographical information to be obtained, which can be weighted with other territorial variables to create an integrated model of fire protection. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.