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On the Marginal Cost of the Duration of a Wildfire

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Listed:
  • Antoine Belgodere
  • Frédéric Allaire
  • Jean-Baptiste Filippi
  • Vivien Mallet
  • Florian Guéniot

Abstract

Avoiding catastrophic wildfires is a natural rationale for fighting fires in their early stage. Beside this benefit, may a marginal decrease in the duration of smaller wildfires be worthwhile? The present article addresses this topic by estimating the marginal damage of the duration of forest fires. We perform two sets of wildfire simulations in Corsica, and estimate the damage based on the type of land use in burned areas. Results suggest that the marginal cost of the duration of fires rises by a factor of 4 during the first 400 minutes. The two reasons appear to be the increase in the marginal burned area (a physical mechanism) and the increase in the value of the marginal burned area, due to the ignition points being located in low-value places (a human mechanism). Using a conservative calibration, our results corroborate the principle of early initial attack already in use in countries with sufficient fire fighting forces, but subject to debate because of its cost.

Suggested Citation

  • Antoine Belgodere & Frédéric Allaire & Jean-Baptiste Filippi & Vivien Mallet & Florian Guéniot, 2023. "On the Marginal Cost of the Duration of a Wildfire," Journal of Forest Economics, now publishers, vol. 38(3), pages 265-292, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:now:jnljfe:112.00000565
    DOI: 10.1561/112.00000565
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ager, Alan A. & Vogler, Kevin C. & Day, Michelle A. & Bailey, John D., 2017. "Economic Opportunities and Trade-Offs in Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 226-239.
    2. Moeltner, K. & Kim, M.-K. & Zhu, E. & Yang, W., 2013. "Wildfire smoke and health impacts: A closer look at fire attributes and their marginal effects," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 66(3), pages 476-496.
    3. Lisa A. Robinson, 2007. "Policy Monitor How US Government Agencies Value Mortality Risk Reductions," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 1(2), pages 283-299, Summer.
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