researchers has developed a system it says can be used to predict the likelihood of human-caused wildfires in boreal forests, allowing fire officials to focus their preparations and prevention efforts. Accurate within 10 daysPickell said the system came about when the researchers noticed that human-caused wildfires tended to spike just before the season's new leaves appeared in early spring. In B.C., only about 40 per cent of wildfires are started by humans; the remaining 60 per cent are started by lightning. Additionally, the system was only tested in Alberta's boreal forest, where the researchers know new leaf growth to be a major factor in the spread of wildfires. He said the system could also be made more robust by including information from the current fire danger system, such as day-of weather observations.

Source: CBC News October 30, 2017 20:37 UTC