How to Submit to Fire Ecology

Purpose and Scope

Fire Ecology is an on-line publication of the Association for Fire Ecology.  The journal strives to publish high quality, peer reviewed articles on topics primarily focusing on fire ecology. Articles that deal with other fire science or fire management topics must establish a relationship with fire ecology.

Editorial Policy 

Fire Ecology does not charge a page fee for published papers. All published articles are available on the Fire Ecology website, but hard copy reprints are not available. Authors are permitted to create links from other web pages to their paper on the Fire Ecology website.

Types of Contributions

Original research papers should report the results of original research. The material should not have been previously published.  Manuscripts may be of any length; however, authors are encouraged to limit their papers to 30 double-spaced pages including tables, figures, and references. 

Short communications address research topics that for whatever reason are not suitable for an original research paper. Examples include observations that may be of interest to the readers of Fire Ecology or results of investigations with inadequate sample size. These papers should be as completely documented, both by reference to the literature and description of the experimental procedures employed, as a regular paper. Authors are encouraged to limit their papers to 8 double-spaced pages including tables, figures, and references.

Forum articles can include papers that address issues, management, policy, opinions, and responses to previous articles. Responses to previous research papers should be as completely documented, both by reference to the literature and description of the experimental procedures, as a regular paper.

Book reviews are encouraged by the editors on any recent text that might interest the readers of Fire Ecology.

Preparation of Manuscripts

Manuscripts will be written in English. Authors whose native language is not English are advised to have their manuscripts checked by an English-speaking colleague prior to submission. 

MANUSCRIPT FORMAT GUIDELINES
AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Submission Procedures

Each manuscript can be submitted electronically or through the postal service as a Microsoft Word document.  Send the manuscript as an attachment via e-mail or through the postal service on a labeled CD to the managing editor (see address below).

All submissions must include a cover e-mail message or letter including:

1. Intended category (listed above in Types of Contributions).

2. Statement that all authors have fully participated in preparation of the submitted article.

3. List of any colleagues who have already reviewed the manuscript.

4. Contact information for all authors.

5. Suggested names of peer reviewers.

Review Procedures

All papers will be reviewed by at least two anonymous reviewers. The reviewers will be selected from suggestions by the authors and from the area specialists on the Fire Ecology editorial board. Authors must address all comments and rebut those comments that have been rejected.

Poorly written and incomplete manuscripts of low technical quality will be returned by the managing editor without additional review.  Editors may provide suggestions on how the article could be improved to warrant publication.

All authors are expected to revise their articles in a timely manner after receiving review comments.  After a paper has been out for revision for six months, the author may be asked for a status report.  Any article not revised within 12 months of receiving review comments will be withdrawn from consideration.

Submitting a Final Manuscript

Authors will receive instructions from the editor about submitting a final manuscript.

Jan W. van Wagtendonk
Managing Editor, Fire Ecology
USGS Yosemite Field Station
PO Box 700
El Portal, CA 95318
jan_van_wagtendonk@usgs.gov