Fire Science

Fire is a natural and often beneficial process, but fire suppression can lead to more severe fires due to the buildup of vegetation, which creates more fuel. In addition, the secondary effects of wildfires, including erosion, landslides, introduction of invasive species, and changes in water quality, are often more disastrous than the fire itself.
CERC conducts fire science research to meet the varied needs of the fire management community and to understand the role of fire in the landscape. This research includes aquatic studies related to the ecological and toxicological effects of fire-fighting chemicals and suppressants, and aspects of vegetative wildland fuels in oak-hickory forests.

Research Studies

Publications

Acute toxicity of fire-retardant and foam-suppressant chemicals to early life stages of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) (90937)

Buhl, K.J. and Hamilton, S.J. 1998. Acute toxicity of fire-retardant and foam-suppressant chemicals to early life stages of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 17(8): 1589-1599.
Acute toxicity of fire-control chemicals, nitrogenous chemicals, and surfactants to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (91060)

Buhl, K.J. and Hamilton, S.J. 2000. Acute toxicity of fire-control chemicals, nitrogenous chemicals, and surfactants to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Transactions of the American Fisheries Society,129(2): 408-418.
Environmental implications of fire-fighting chemicals: A summary of current research by the National Biological Survey (90826)

Finger, S.E. 1996. Environmental implications of fire-fighting chemicals: a summary of current research by the National Biological Survey. Proceedings International Wildland Fire Foam Symposium and Workshop, Thunder Bay, Ontario, May 3-5: 119-122. (The online abstract is not available. You will be directed to Susan Finger's profile.)
Acute toxicity of firefighting chemical formulations to four life stages of fathead minnow (90843)

Gaikowski, M.P., Hamilton, S.J., Buhl, K.J., McDonald, S.F. and Summers, C.H. 1996. Acute toxicity of firefighting chemical formulations to four life stages of fathead minnow. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 34(3): 252-263.
Acute toxicity of three fire-retardant and two fire-suppressant foam formulations to the early life stages of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (90835)

Gaikowski, M.P., Hamilton, S.J., Buhl, K.J., McDonald, S.F. and Summers, C.H. 1996. Acute toxicity of three fire-retardant and two fire-suppressant foam formulations to the early life stages of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15(8): 1365-1374.
Effects of UVB radiation on the toxicity of fire-fighting chemicals (91259)

Little, E.E. and Calfee, R.D. 2000. The effects of UVB radiation on the toxicity of fire-fighting chemicals. Final report to the USDA Forest Service, Wildland Fire Chemical Systems.
Environmental implications of fire-retardant chemicals: Project Summary (91249)

Little, E.E. and Calfee, R.D. 2002. Environmental implications of fire-retardant chemicals: Project Summary. Prepared for U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C.
Effects of fire-retardant chemical products on fathead minnows in experimental streams (91260)

Little, E.E. and Calfee, R.D. 2003. Effects of fire-retardant chemical products on fathead minnows in experimental streams. Final report to the USDA Forest Service, Wildland Fire Chemical Systems.
Effects of UVB radiation on the toxicity of fire-fighting chemicals (91259)

Little, E.E. and Calfee, R.D., 2000, Effects of UVB Radiation on the Toxicity of Fire-Fighting Chemicals: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Final Report to U.S. Forrest Service.
Environmental implications of fire-retardant chemicals (91249)

Little, E.E. and Calfee, R.D., 2002, Environmental Implications of Fire-Retardant Chemicals: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Project Summary for U.S. Forest Service
Environmental Persistence and Toxicity of Fire-Retardant Chemicals, Fire-Trol, GTS-R and Phos-Chek D75R to Fathead Minnows

Little, E.E. and Calfee, R.D., 2002, Environmental Persistence and Toxicity of Fire-Retardant Chemicals, Fire-Trol, GTS-R and Phos-Chek D75R to Fathead Minnows, 2002, U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Final Report to U.S. Forest Service
Effects of fire-retardant chemical products on fathead minnows in experimental streams (91260)

Little, E.E. and Calfee, R.D., 2004, Effects of Fire-Retardant Chemical Products to Fathead Minnows in Experimental Streams: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Final Report to U.S. Forrest Service
Behavioral Avoidance/Attractance Response of Rainbow Trout to Fire-Retardant Chemicals

Little, E.E., Wells, J.B., and Calfee, R.D., 2002, Behavioral Avoidance/Attractance Response of Rainbow Trout to Fire-Retardant Chemicals: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Final Report to U.S. Forest Service, 23p.
Acute toxicity of fire control chemicals to Daphnia magna (Straus) and Selenastrum capricornutum (Printz) (90829)

McDonald, S.F., Hamilton, S.J., Buhl, K.J. and Heisinger, J.F. 1996. Acute toxicity of fire control chemicals to Daphnia magna (Straus) and Selenastrum capricornutum (Printz). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 33(1): 62-72.
Acute toxicity of fire-retardant and foam-suppressant chemicals to Hyalella azteca (Saussure) (90892)

McDonald, S.F., Hamilton, S.J., Buhl, K.J. and Heisinger, J.F. 1997. Acute toxicity of fire-retardant and foam-suppressant chemicals to Hyalella azteca (Saussure). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16(7): 1370-1376.
Effects of two fire suppressant foams on benthic invertebrates colonizing artificial substrates in portable limnocorrals (90887)

Poulton, B.C. 1996. Effects of two fire suppressant foams on benthic invertebrates colonizing artificial substrates in portable limnocorrals. Proceedings of the North Dakota Academy of Science 50: 145-149. (The online abstract is not available. You will be directed to Dr. Poulton's profile.)
Effects of fire suppressant foams on a prairie wetland ecosystem - A study of a North Dakota prairie wetland community (90828)

Poulton, B.C. and Finger, S.E. 1996. Effects of fire suppressant foams on a prairie wetland ecosystem - A study of a North Dakota prairie wetland community. Proceedings International Wildland Fire Foam Symposium and Workshop, Thunder Bay, Ontario, May 3-5: 145-151. (The online abstract is not available. You will be directed to Dr. Poulton's profile.)
Behavioral response of young rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to dilute fire fighting chemicals in the laboratory (91303)

Wells, J.B., Little, E.E. and Calfee, R.D. 2004. Behavioral response of young rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to dilute fire fighting chemicals in the laboratory. Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, 23(3): 621-625.