Oregon State University wildfire expert available for interviews about wildfires in U.S. West

David Blunck, an associate professor of mechanical engineering Oregon State University, is an expert on the burning of live fuels, such as live trees and bushes.

Blunck and his colleagues use a combination of lab work, modeling, and field studies (some at Blunck’s 14-acre farm in Albany, OR) to forecast ignition, burn rate, and fuel consumption mixtures for live and dead fuels that can ultimately help fire managers more effectively plan prescribed burning as well as wildfire responses.

These recent articles illustrate Blunck’s research program:

https://engineering.oregonstate.edu/burning-understand

https://terra.oregonstate.edu/2017/04/living-with-fire/

https://lebanon-express.com/news/local/torching-trees-to-save-lives/article_f1a97714-bc70-552a-8aac-d3c7bf6d3863.html

Blunck’s contact info:

[email protected]

541.737.7095

https://mime.oregonstate.edu/people/david-l-blunck

For help in contacting Dr. Blunck, contact Chris Palmer at [email protected]