Skip to main content

FRAMES logo
Resource Catalog

Document

Type: Report
Author(s): Patricia L. Andrews; Richard C. Rothermel
Publication Date: 1982

The fire characteristics chart is proposed as a graphical method of presenting two primary characteristics of fire behavior: spread rate and intensity. Its primary use is communicating and interpreting either site-specific predictions of fire behavior or National Fire-Danger Rating System (NF3RS) indexes and components. Rate of spread, heat per unit area, flame length, and fireline intensity are plotted on a fire behavior chart. Spread component, energy release component, and burning index are plotted on an NFDRS chart. Specific examples illustrate use of a fire characteristics chart in conjunction with fire prescriptions, fire behavior forecasts, fire .management plans, and briefings. The equations used in creating the charts are given; and a method of obtaining heat per unit area from fire behavior nomograms is illustrated.

Online Links
Link to this document (1.8 MB [OCR]; pdf-TreeSearch)
Link to this document (3.1 MB; pdf)
Citation: Andrews, Patricia L.; Rothermel, Richard C. 1982. Charts for interpreting wildland fire behavior characteristics. General Technical Report INT-GTR-131. Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 21 p.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Alaska    California    Eastern    Great Basin    Hawaii    Northern Rockies    Northwest    Rocky Mountain    Southern    Southwest    National
Partner Sites:
Keywords:
  • energy
  • fire danger rating
  • fire intensity
  • fire management planning
  • fire spread
  • fire weather
  • flame length
  • fuel types
  • heat
  • NFDRS - National Fire Danger Rating System
  • rate of spread
  • season of fire
  • statistical analysis
  • visual effects
  • wilderness fire management
  • wildfires
  • wildland fuels
Tall Timbers Record Number: 7123Location Status: In-fileAbstract Status: Okay, Fair use, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 5502

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.