Scientists experiment with fire in CanterburySTACY SQUIRES/STUFF Scion is using state-of-the art equipment to test a new theory about how fire spreads. Research burns will take place on Canterbury farms this month in collaboration with national and international fire researchers. A field in rural Canterbury was deliberately set ablaze to investigate how to fight the growing number of unpredictable and severe wildfires in New Zealand. The controlled blaze is part of a $8.75-million government research project into how firefighters can best tackle unpredictable and large wildfires like the Port Hills fires in Christchurch and the Hanmer fire in 2017. STACY SQUIRES/STUFF Saturday's experiment was tracked with drone-mounted cameras and a camera on a crane.

Source: Stuff March 11, 2018 03:00 UTC