Frequency of fire incidence in relation to Zagros forests and rangelands physiography (Kermanshah Province) using MODIS Active Fire Data

In this study, with respect to the importance of fires in Zagros vegetation zone, temporal and spatial data of fire incidence, from 2002 to 2018, in natural areas of Kermanshah province was extracted using MODIS active fire data. Then the frequency of fire incidence was analyzed with respect to physiography of the study area including slope, aspect direction and altitude classes. According to the results, the highest and the lowest frequency of forest fire incidence were observed in slopes of 15-30% and > 80%, respectively. In rangelands, the highest and lowest frequency was observed in slopes of 0-15% and > 80%, respectively. In the forest area, the highest frequency of fire incidence was observed in the altitudes of 1500 – 1000 m and 1500 - 2000 m and the lowest frequency was observed in the altitudes of 500 – 115 m and >2500 m. In the rangelands, the highest frequency of fire incidence was observed in the altitudes of 1500 – 1000 m and 1500 - 2000 m and the lowest frequency was observed in the altitude of over 2500 m. It was also observed that the frequency of fire incidence in the northern and southern aspect directions was remarkably higher than the eastern and western directions. The results of this study emphasize that in addition to the type of physiography of the region, the frequency of fire incidents is significantly dependent on the surface area of each form of physiography, which can be very important in fire management planning.