Abstract Background Wildfires constitute an increasingly significant ecological disturbance in Andean ecosystems, particularly in high-elevation shrublands and páramo transition zones. In southern Ecuador, recent increases in fire activity underscore the need to better understand how fire behavior responds to steep elevation gradients, where fuel characteristics, microclimate, and topography vary over short distances. This study examined fire behavior during controlled burns across three contrasting elevational zones (1549–2757 m a.s.l.) to identify the primary ecological and environmental controls on rate of spread, flame length, flame height, and soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm. Results Fire behavior varied systematically along the elevation gradient, reflecting shifts in the dominant ecological constraints on combustion. At higher elevations with steep slopes, wind exposure, and terrain–wind interactions favored faster spread and greater flame development. At mid elevations, where slopes are moderate, vegetation moisture limited spread and flame development, indicating that live-fuel water status strongly regulates flammability even under moderate atmospheric forcing. At lower elevations, gently sloping shrublands, higher solar radiation and greater surface dryness were associated with more variable fire behavior, consistent with a fragmented fuel structure and heterogeneous fuel continuity. These patterns indicate that elevation gradient does not simply scale fire intensity but reorganizes the balance among topographic forcing, atmospheric conditions, and fuel properties. Conclusions Fire behavior in Andean landscapes is governed by shifting ecological controls along elevation, rather than by a single dominant driver. Recognizing these zone-specific mechanisms can strengthen Integrated Fire Management by aligning prevention, monitoring, and risk-reduction strategies with the ecological context of each elevational zone.
Balaguer et al. (Mon,) studied this question.