Bussoleno-Chianocco, (Torino) – Piedmont (Italy) SUB -REGIONAL EURO -ALPINE NETWORK

DOCUMENTATION OF PAST FIRES

Ignition point

Fire perimeter

General Topography

Identification

N°: 39/03 Date: August 29 th 2003 Area (ha): 483.83

Cause: anthropogenic.

Type of fire: different intensities and types of fire characterized the event, depending on the different weather conditions, vegetation and on the morphology of the area.

Start fire time: August 29 th 2003, h. 10.30 p.m.

Final propagation time: September 7 th 2003, h.8.00 p.m.

Ignition point Coordinates: UTM 353500 E; 5001420 N, south aspect, 600 m a.s.l.

The fire occurred in the lower part of the Valle di Susa, valley of Susa, (Torino). Location and Comments:

The fire occurred on the left-side of the Valle di Susa, Valley of Susa (Torino), on the southern slope of the mountain. It affected the territory of two municipality: Bussoleno and Chianocco. The place is characterized by high dryness worsened in the summer 2003 by the peculiar climate conditions of that season. It was a summer fire not so typical in Piedmont region as the most fire danger period is winter. The cause anthropogenic is deducible by the fact that were found on the same place, on September 8th 2001 and on January 5 th 2003, the remains of the objects used to set on the fire. It burned approximately 450 ha of forests and 30 ha of other surfaces. Forest types involved during the fire were beech forests ( Fagus sylvatica ) and other View of the mountain in October 2011. Burnt beech broad-leaf forests among which important presence trees are still evident. of Quercus pubescens (as shown on the map). The fire also involved urban-interface area.

Landscape after the fire in spring 2004.

During the fire, photo by CFS (State Forest Corps), Comando Stazione di Bussoleno.

Landscape on the Valle di Susa, valley of Susa.

The map shows the perimeter of the fire (in red), and the vegetation (Acero-tiglio-frassineti= forests of Acer spp ., Tilia cordata , Fraxinus spp ., Boscaglie pionire=pioneer forests, Castagneti= chestnut tree forests, Cespuglieti= bushes, Coltivi abbandonati= abandoned crops, Faggete= beech forests, Pinete di pino silvestre= forests of Pinus sylvestris , Praterie=grasslands, Querceti di roverella= forests of Quercus pubescens , Rocce e macereti= rocks and screes).

METEOROLOGICAL SITUATION 29/8/2003 - On August 29 th , the passage of a trough connected with a low area located over Middle Northern Europe caused unfavourable weather conditions with mostly cloudy skies and local showers over Northern and Western Piedmont and strong wind. Improvement only in the late afternoon with sunny skies.

30-31/8/2003 - A weak centre of depression connected with the big low brought fair skies and sustained Foehn conditions (identified as high pressure gradient over the Piedmont Alps in “Sea level Pressure” image) caused by intense northwestern high flows over all of Piedmont. On August 31 st light increasing cloudiness and weakening winds from evening.

1÷7/09/2003 - From September 1st North-Western low level flows and afterwards an anticyclonic ridge, have supported fine weather, sunny skies, no precipitation, light wind together with sharply decreasing temperatures until September 6th . On September 7th the arrival of an Atlantic low caused a gradual worsening of weather with mostly cloudy skies and widespread precipitations in the afternoon.

MONTLY ANOMALY : August 2003 was hot with very high mean temperature anomaly and dry with a very low precipitation anomaly.

Danger level (FWI – Piedmont thresholds ) : 29/8/2003 LOW ; 30-31/8/2003 and 1-6/9/2003 VERY HIGH

Fire danger map FIRE

29/08/2003

30 /08/2003

31 /08/2003

01 /0 9/2003

02 /0 9/2003

Danger level :

0 - VERY LOW 1 - LOW 2 - MODERATE 3 - HIGH 4 - VERY HIGH

1. Air temperature and relative humidity

"Chianocco-Bussoleno" Fire 29/08/2003 Hourly data Hourly Air Temperature [°C] Fire activity Daily mean data 35 period

30 25 Temperature [° C] 20 15 Relative Temperature[°C] 10 Humidity [%] 5

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 / / / / / / / / / / / / / 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 / / / / / / / / / / / / / 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 7 / 8 / 9 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 2 7 2 8 2 9 3 0 3 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 2 2 3 3 date

"Chianocco-Bussoleno" Fire 29/08/2003 Hourly Relative Humidity [%] 100 90

70 60 50 RH [%] 40 30 20

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0

MONTLY ANOMALY :

. mean temperature anomaly August 2003 precipitation anomaly August 2003 2. Wind speed

"Chianocco-Bussoleno" Fire 29/08/2003 Hourly Wind Speed [m/s] Wind speed 10 [km/h] 9 8 Fire activity 7 period 6 5 4

Wind Speed [m/s] Speed Wind 3 2 1 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 / / / / / / / / / / / / / 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 / / / / / / / / / / / / / 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 7 / 8 / 9 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

2 7 2 8 2 9 3 0 3 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

2 2 2 3 3 date

3. Fire weather indices "Chianocco-Bussoleno" Fire 29/08/2003 The fire danger level FWI index and threshold threshold change determined by the Fire 90 danger level 4 87.0 Weather Index (FWI) 85 80 was LOW when the fire 75 ignited, because FWI is 70 65 calculated from 60 weather conditions at 55 12am, but the strong 50 45 45.6 wind supporting the 40 36.6 FWI index 36.0 fire propagation 31.6 34.7 35 33.5 30.2 30 danger level 3 affected the region in 25 26.8 danger level 2 the afternoon. In the 20 next days the FWI 15 10 danger level 1 index increased at 7.2 5 danger level 0 VERY HIGH . 0

1/9/03 2/9/03 3/9/03 4/9/03 5/9/03 6/9/03 7/9/03 8/9/03 24/8/03 25/8/03 26/8/03 27/8/03 28/8/03 29/8/03 30/8/03 31/8/03 date START END "Chianocco-Bussoleno" Fire 29/08/2003 ISI and FWI index The FWI follows the 100 60 trend of ISI (Initial

90 Spread Index), a good 50 predictor of the fire. 80 Please notice the sharp 70 40 increased of ISI on 60 August 31 st for strong 50 30 Foehn wind. ISI index ISI FWI index FWI 40 20 30 20 Fire activity 10 10 FWI period ISI 0 0 FWI 1/8/03 2/8/03 3/8/03 4/8/03 5/8/03 6/8/03 7/8/03 8/8/03 9/8/03 1/9/03 2/9/03 3/9/03 4/9/03 5/9/03 6/9/03 7/9/03 8/9/03

31/7/03 10/8/03 11/8/03 12/8/03 13/8/03 14/8/03 15/8/03 16/8/03 17/8/03 18/8/03 19/8/03 20/8/03 21/8/03 22/8/03 23/8/03 24/8/03 25/8/03 26/8/03 27/8/03 28/8/03 29/8/03 30/8/03 31/8/03 ISI date

"Chianocco-Bussoleno" Fire 29/08/2003 The FFMC (Fine Fuel FFMC index Moisture Code) was 100 high with values near 100 during the days of 90 90.4 fire, and these values 80 80.3 show a very low rate of 70 the moisture content of 60 surface litter and other cured fine fuels, hence 50 a heavy dehydration of

FFMC index 40 the layer. 30 20 FFMC 10

1/8/03 2/8/03 3/8/03 4/8/03 5/8/03 6/8/03 7/8/03 8/8/03 9/8/03 1/9/03 2/9/03 3/9/03 4/9/03 5/9/03 6/9/03 7/9/03 8/9/03

31/7/03 10/8/03 11/8/03 12/8/03 13/8/03 14/8/03 15/8/03 16/8/03 17/8/03 18/8/03 19/8/03 20/8/03 21/8/03 22/8/03 23/8/03 24/8/03 25/8/03 26/8/03 27/8/03 28/8/03 29/8/03 30/8/03 31/8/03 date Fire activity

period "Chianocco-Bussoleno" Fire 29/08/2003 DMC and DC index 900 200 850 180 DC 800 835.7 DMC 160 750 779.3 140 700 650 126.0 120 The high values of 600 100 DMC (Duff Moisture 97.7

DC index Code) and DC 550 80 DMC index 500 (Drought Code) show a 60 low moisture content in 450 40 deep soil layer and in 400 DC the mean soil layer. 350 20 DMC Therefore the soil was 300 0 very dry and had a easier fire spread 1/8/03 2/8/03 3/8/03 4/8/03 5/8/03 6/8/03 7/8/03 8/8/03 9/8/03 1/9/03 2/9/03 3/9/03 4/9/03 5/9/03 6/9/03 7/9/03 8/9/03 31/7/03 10/8/03 11/8/03 12/8/03 13/8/03 14/8/03 15/8/03 16/8/03 17/8/03 18/8/03 19/8/03 20/8/03 21/8/03 22/8/03 23/8/03 24/8/03 25/8/03 26/8/03 27/8/03 28/8/03 29/8/03 30/8/03 31/8/03 date during the day of fire.

FIRE BEHAVIOUR AND OPERATIONS

August 29 th .The fire started not far from the road linking Bussoleno to the hamlet of Falcemagna, on a waste land (red X). From there it spread to the dry vegetation all around. At first, the fire had the characteristics of a medium-high intensity surface fire (1). On the evening of August 30 th 2003 it seemed it had been extinguished, land reclaim operations were ordered. During the morning of the 31 st the fire started again, due to the strong wind (light blue narrow shows wind direction) and reached very high intensity. In these conditions spotting process happened and the fire spread to the opposite side of the Rio Moletto (Moletto stream) (2, red point). Later on the front of the fire sped up due to the presence of grasslands and to the high gradient of the mountain slope, in some places higher than 50% (3). Afterwards the fire followed two main directions (4). The head of the fire went up along the maximum slope of the mountain till it reached the peak called Truc dal Vent (1897 m a.s.l.) where it lastly stopped because of the changed climate conditions and thanks to the intervention of helicopter and air tanker. In this zone the fire reached a very high intensity, characterized both by the high speed of the front flame and by the long time of stay of the fire which caused the burning of the litter and consequently the damage of the roots. A second fire front spread towards the place called Colletto (1290 m a.s.l.) (green arrow) and from there it went down passing the watershed. In this zone its intensity was lower, probably because of the higher humidity of the place and of the litter.

Fire and post-fire images

Fixed water point near the perimeter of the fire, in place The vegetation shows a good capacity to renew during the years Pietrabianca. after the fire, also in the places characterized by high intensity of the fire.

The areas where the experimental forestry management was undertaken in the beech forests, are shown in colors. Each color represents a different year of intervention .

Larix decidua trees after the fire. This specie has a higher Beech forest after the fire. Here the fire had high intensity. resistance to the fire than the beeches (Fagus silvatica).

ECOLOGY AND ECONOMY OF THE EVENT PRE-EVENT MANAGEMENT IMPACTS AND ECONOMIC DAMAGES

- Forest and surrounding vegetation conditions: - Which of the wood and ecosystem services have abandoned pastures and crop lands, frequent been compromised? Both invasion of shrubs and mixed forests. - Which are the human consequences? No one. - Type of forestry management: coppices very - Is it possible to evaluate the economic losses? No often not yet managed, pastures managed in it isn’t. the surroundings of the hamlets. - Has the event been considered “extreme” and - Presence of a fixed water point near to the why? perimeter of the fire (see the picture). This fire can be classified, at a regional level, as - Risk awareness: daily calculation of the fire “big fire” according to its extension (more than 10 - Fire Weather Index (FWI) by Arpa Piemonte ha). In Piedmont, this kind of fires, has a frequency of 10% on the total, but they burn the 85% of the total burned surface (data from historical analysis on fires - occurred in the period 1997-2005).

POST-EVENT ADOPTED STRATEGIES and LESSONS LEARNED To the aim of studying the after fire ecological dynamic of vegetation, an experimental forestry management was undertaken in the beech forests. It consisted of different cuttings of the burned forest for a period of 6 years after the fire. The study was carried out by the University of Turin, Università degli Studi di Torino, AgroSelviTer dept. Its conclusions can be summarized as follows: In the burned beech forests characterized by medium-low intensity of the fire, it is better to: - intervene just after the fire (within maximum 3 years after it) and just in one intervention, to not damage the growing vegetation; - take away the deadwood to reduce the danger of new fires, the danger of slipping of it causing damages to the growing vegetation; - intervene just before the year of maximum production of seeds; - in case of low intensity of the fire it is favorable to cut down the trees per groups; - in case of medium intensity of the fire, it is favorable to cut down the trees leaving the ones which could produce seeds and leaving the dying trees as well, with a cover of 20-40%; - leave the coniferous plants, if they are present, because they are characterized by high resistance to the fire, high capacity of seed production and they can protect the soil.

The post-event forest management affected the management policy, at a municipality level.

The Fire Weather Index (FWI) is based on weather data calculated at 12am, sudden and late changes aren’t recorded until the day after. DRAFT – Chart of the impacts and the stakeholders towards the ecosystem services

IMPACTS FUNCTION STAKEHOLDERS

Yes All the population. Protection

Yes Local population and Naturalistic tourists.

Yes Local population and tourists. Landscape

Yes Local population and Recreational tourists.

Yes Local population. Productive