Predicting the effects of fires in the year 2000 and beyond will be enhanced by the use of expert systems. Although our predictions may have broad confidence limits, expert systems should help us to improve the predictions and to focus on the areas where improved knowledge is most needed. The knowledge of experts can be incorporated into previously existing knowledge bases, and the process of extracting knowledge from experts will help the expert to make more astute observations and to examine the judgments made. Expert systems also have potential in educational and training processes. By building a small expert system, the student will be aided in synthesizing facts into principles.