In this study we establish quantitative relationships between important fire behaviour descriptors and its environment, that are applicable to low-to-moderately intense fires in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) stands. Sustained fire propagation is presented as a function of fuel moisture content, wind speed, air temperature and fuel type. The thresholds for marginal fire spread depend on fuel moisture, time since rain and propagation mode (backfire or headfire). The available models to predict fire spread rate proved inadequate for operational use in prescribed fire, and an empirical model based on wind speed, dead fuel moisture content, slope, understory height and fuel type is developed, while backing spread rate is satisfactorily predicted by dead fuel moisture content and understory vegetation cover. Flame length is related to Byram's fireline intensity, and, in alternative, to spread rate, fine fuel load and fuel moisture content. Flame tilt angle is described in terms of wind speed and fine fuel load, or as a function of wind speed and flame height.
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Fernandes et al. (2002) studied this question.