Simulation-Based Strategies for Surface Fire Prevention and Control in Wind-Damaged Zones of Changbai Mountain

Severe wind disturbances substantially alter forest structure and fuel spatial patterns, forming unique high-fire-risk forest environments. However, quantitative studies on post-recovery fire behavior and targeted fire prevention strategies in temperate wind-damaged forests remain insufficient. Based on the extensive wind-damaged zones of the Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve caused by Typhoon Vera in 1986, this study adopted a synergistic optimization plan of fuel management and firefighting forces and quantitatively evaluated its improvement effects on fire prevention and control by comparing surface fire spread characteristics and firefighting efficiency before and after optimization. The highest surface fire spread rate was observed in the primary forest reserves, while the total fire area was greater in the unrestored and semi-restored zones. Reducing the fuel load by 50% and maintaining the fuel moisture content under the forest canopy at 35% effectively suppresses the surface forest fire spread. After optimization, the maximum reduction in the fire spread rate reached 61.85%, and the maximum reduction in the total area of fire reached 47.48%. Optimization of firefighting forces, combined with fuel management, significantly reduced fire suppression time, especially in unrestored zones and primary forest reserves where fire spread is rapid. The maximum reduction in firefighting time reached 42.45%, and the surface fire extinguishing rate within two hours exceeded 90% across different restored areas. The fire prevention and control techniques based on quantifying fire behavior and optimizing firefighting resources can provide valuable references for managing forest fire risk in similar regions affected by extreme weather events.