The adverse effects of climate change on forest ecosystems are many and varied (IPCC 2014). In the Western United States, drought frequency and severity (both magnitude and period of water defcit) are rising. Hot and dry conditions increase the...
Fuels Portal
Definition: Combustible material.
(National Wildfire Coordinating Group/Fire Research And Management Exchange System)
The fuels topic page contains resources related to the study of fuels, including, but not limited to, fuel categories, fuel properties, fuel moisture, plant flammability, fuel availability, and fuel consumption.
Highlighted Content
Standard fire behavior fuel models (RMRS-GTR-153)
This report describes the standard fire behavior fuel models for use with Rothermel's surface fire spread model. The report provides a fuel model selection guide, fuel model crosswalk, and set of fuel model photos are provided. Additional materials include the NewFuelModelsFour.xls, its help file, and a power point presentation.
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The Alaska Wildland Fire Coordinating Group charters the Fire Modeling and Analysis Committee (FMAC) to provide specific expertise to the interagency fire management community.
Publications related to wildland fire behavior and fire danger rating authored or co-authored by Dr. Martin E. Alexander.
The BehavePlus fire modeling system is a Windows based computer program that can be used for any fire management application that involves modeling fire behavior and fire effects.
Publications related to the application of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS) to Alaskan Ecosystems.
Software downloads and publications related to the Crown Fire Initiation Spread (CFIS) System.
FFI (FEAT/FIREMON Integrated) is a monitoring software tool designed to assist managers with collection, storage and analysis of ecological information.
The Fire and Fire Surrogates Study (FFS) assessed the effects of fire and fire surrogate fuel treatments, specifically, quantifying the costs and ecological consequences of alternative fire and fire surrogate restorative treatments in a number of forest types and conditions across the US.
Fire Effects Monitoring and Inventory Protocol (FIREMON) is an agency independent plot level sampling system designed to characterize changes in ecosystem attributes over time.
HIGRAD/FIRETEC is a physics-based, 3-D computer code designed to simulate the constantly changing, interactive relationship between fire and its environment. It does so by representing the coupled interaction between fire, fuels, atmosphere, and topography on a landscape scale.
The Fuel Treatment Effectiveness in Alaska project was designed to assess the effectiveness of maturing treatment projects in terms of previously defined risk reduction and fire behavior objectives in order to better understand the contribution of fuel treatments to the broader economics of wildfire management in Alaska.
The IFIRE - UI Combustion Lab was developed to advance research and educational opportunities within the field of fire sciences.
This site was developed to showcase the results of the JFSP-funded project "A Review of Available Economic and Financial Biomass Information and Tools for Federal Land Managers in the West."
Researching long term (>10 yrs) response in fuel loads and vegetation composition after large and severe wildfires across five fire-adapted ecosystems in the western US, including Alaska.
Scientists from the USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station and the University of Montana conducted a study in which observed data were used to produce statistical models describing the probability of high severity fire as a function of fuel, topography, climate, and fire weather.
The Southwest Fire Science Consortium is partnering with FRAMES to help fire managers access important fire science information related to the Southwest's top ten fire management science issues.
The vision of the World of Wildland Fire is to provide and connect fire science educators and trainers with scientifically solid and peer-reviewed teaching tools and techniques, using state-of-the-art materials, which will be free and accessible to all.
The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) has released its 2019 Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs):
The Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) announcement FA-FOA0019-001 has one task statement. Proposals must address one or more of the following topic areas:
- Fuels management and fire behavior
- Emissions and air quality
- Fire effects and post-fire recovery
- Relative impacts of prescribed fire versus wildfire
- Human dimensions of fire
The primary announcement FA-FOA0019-002 has two task statements:
- Effectiveness of fuel breaks and fuel break systems
- Reducing damages and losses to valued resources from wildfire
The Regional Fire Science Exchange announcement FA-FOA0019-003 has one task statement focused on leading and executing a regional fire science exchange in the following two regions:
- Great Plains
- Southern Rockies
Deadline: May 16, 2019 5:00 pm Mountain Daylight Time
For more information: Go to the JFSP Funding Announcements website
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest will soon be advertising to fill a GS-401-11 Forest Prescribed Fire and Fuels Specialist position. The position is permanent, full time located at the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Wenatchee, WA.
About the Position
This position reports to the Deputy Fire Staff-Fuels and is responsible for coordination of the forest fuels program, working closely with the districts and other programs to accomplish restoration objectives.
The incumbent will work with local, regional, and interagency partners to assist in planning, coordination, and implementation of a variety of fuels projects to meet landscape restoration objectives.
The position also provides forest level coordination for the forest prevention program.
The work is diverse and involves office work combined with field assignments during the fire season and occasional travel throughout the year.
FS-FPM qualification requirements: Currency as RXB2 and (ICT3 or TFLD or HEBM)
Deadline: Apr 15, 2019 11:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Contact Name: Matt Castle
Contact E-mail: matthew.castle@usda.gov
Contact Phone: 509-664-9333
The Stewardship/Burn Crew Technician (SBCT) will assist with various prairie stewardship activities including: prescribed fire operations (including ignition, control, mop-up, suppression, and monitoring), tree/brush removal, noxious weed control, fencing, firebreak installation and other and other tasks as assigned. This is a full-time (40 hours/week) short-term position. There are three positions of different durations. Two positions will be from April 15 to August 30 and one position from April 15 to July 31.
SBCT will serve on a crew of 6 to 8 people. The crew travels throughout the Prairie Coteau (northeast SD/southwest MN) landscape. This crew is responsible for preparation and implementation of prescribed fire at various preserves in the landscape. Under the direction of a Burn Boss, the SBCT will assist with controlled burns and other land management activities which may include some or all of the tasks listed in the following Responsibilities and Scope section. The SBCT will work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
Deadline: Mar 24, 2019 11:59 pm
Contact Name: Ben Gery
Contact E-mail: benjamin.gery@tnc.org
For more information: Visit this site
This position has been identified as one of the key fire management positions under the Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard. This position has been categorized as a Senior Firefighter, and requires selectee to meet the minimum qualification standards for IFPM prior to being placed into the position. Detailed information regarding IFPM positions can be found at http://www.ifpm.nifc.gov/.
Responsibilities:
- Serves as a Forestry Technician on a Type 3 Engine Module crew performing wildland firefighting work and providing leadership to crewmembers in fire engine operations.
- Performs work directly related to wildland fire suppression and control activities including suppression, preparedness, prevention, monitoring, hazardous fuels reduction, and prescribed burning.
- Makes initial evaluation of fire situations, determines rate of spread, potential hazards to property and other improvements, suppression method to use, deployment of crew, point of initial attack, type of tools to use and application of water.
- Performs vehicle inpection on fire vehicles from utility trucks and fire engines. Inventiories fire tools and equipment to ensure necessary tools and equipment are available for firefighting tasks.
- Leads engine crew members (4 to 6 firefighters) in daily field operations; and provides leadeship for fire management projects.
- Instructs crew members in specific tasks and techniques; conducts on-the-job training; distributes work assignments among employees, assures timely completion of assigned tasks; ensures work is carried out safely; and reports on performance issues.
- Operates a variety of motor vehicles to transport equipment, supplies, crew members, etc.
For more information: Visit this site
Northwest Oregon Interagency Fire Management is advertising for two Assistant Fuels Specialists to serve the Northwest Oregon District BLM in Salem and Springfield. These are permanent full time GS-0401-07/09 positions. The District Fuels Management organization consists of a Lead and an Assistant located in Salem, primarily serving the Cascades, Marys Peak, and Tillamook Field Offices and another Lead/Assistant pair in Springfield, primarily serving the Siuslaw and Upper Willamette Field Offices. The duties for this position consists of planning timber sales and other land management activities as a member of interdisciplinary teams. Additional duties include creating and administering contracts and agreements, inspecting timber sales and fuels treatments, and planning and implementing prescribed burns.
Interested candidates should review advertisement OR Merit-2019-0083 at USAJOBS.GOV.
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/527565000
This advertisement closes March 25th.
Refer to the advertisement for minimum requirements to qualify for these positions. In a nutshell, your application must clearly show that you:
- Have a minimum of 90 days experience performing fire suppression duties
- Possess NWCG qualifications as CRWB or ENGB or HMGB and ICT
- Meet the positive education requirement of the 0401-series.
Deadline: Mar 25, 2019 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time
For more information: Visit this site
Position Overview: Serves as the agency’s lead expert on prescribed fire – use, application and implementation. The primary purpose of the position will be to provide leadership in the use and applicability of prescribed fire in Washington, develop a prescribed fire program within the agency and develop a prescribed burn certification program for those who practice prescribed burning in the State of Washington (see RCW 76.04.183). This position serves as a mid-level manager providing oversight and program advocacy for the appropriate use of prescribed fire as well as long-term growth and viability of the program.
The position will provide support for the successful operational use of prescribed fire in helping to achieve the goals of the agency’s 20-year Forest Health Strategic Plan for Eastern Washington (https://www.dnr.wa.gov/ForestHealthPlan). Additionally, the position will be expected to collaborate with other prescribed fire experts within the region and regularly report on the use, application, implementation and effects of prescribed fire in Washington with an emphasis in forested ecosystems.
Required Education & Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in fire science, fire ecology, forestry, other applicable field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience as a wildland firefighter with experience in PNW or similar fuel types and use of prescribed fire.
Required Qualifications:
• Knowledge of forest & fire ecology in the PNW or similar ecosystems and successful management strategies to address those issues.
• Demonstrated successful experience with fuels & vegetation management, fire management, and prescribed fire plans.
• Proven skills in the development and/or implementation of a similar program at the local, state or federal level.
• Prescribed fire and fuels management - experience in activities such as:
o Professional forest or range inventory methods and procedures (e.g., Brown's planar intercept for dead and down fuels; fuel loading assessments)
o Analysis of fuel loadings and determination of appropriate fuel treatment methods
o Evaluation of prescribed burn plans or fire management plans
o Conducting surveys before and after prescribed fires to determine attainment of resource objectives
• One year of experience in successfully administering contracts, interagency agreements, grants, or other partnership agreements.
Preferred Education/Certification:
• Currently qualified as NWCG RXB2 or higher OR RXM2 or higher.
Working Conditions & Special Position Requirements:
• Travel is required including overnight travel – lodging/meals covered.
• Must have valid Washington driver’s license; this position requires driving as an essential function. Employees who drive for state business, whether in a state or privately owned vehicle, are required to possess a valid driver’s license as defined in agency policy
• Use/application of prescribed fire which will require ability to navigate on foot varying & diverse terrain; ability to work in smoke filled environment.
Contact Name: Julie Sackett
Contact E-mail: julie.sackett@dnr.wa.gov
There are many exciting things coming to IFTDSS in 2019. The IFTDSS Development Team would like to get to know its User Community and would love to hear what you think so far. User Feedback is essential as they add new features and functionality.
For more information: Go to the IFTDSS user survey
Since the inception of National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, NFPA and State Farm have partnered together to give communities an opportunity to apply for $500 to fund their wildfire risk reduction activities. The deadline is March 1. Use the links below to get started:
Apply for an award.
Get some tips on filling out the application.
Read the contest rules.
Proposals for special sessions, workshops and trainings, oral and poster presentations, fire circles, and attached meetings are now being accepted.
Call for Special Sessions ~ Deadline April 1, 2019
Call for Workshops, Trainings, and Courses ~ Deadline April 1, 2019
Call for Oral and Poster Presentations ~ Deadline August 1, 2019 for Oral Presentations and August 30, 2019 for Poster Presentations
Call for Fire Circles ~ Deadline August 1, 2019
Call for Attached Meetings ~ Deadline August 30, 2019
For more information: Visit this site
Training: National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center FY2019 Sessions (posted Jul 19, 2018)
The Prescribed Fire Training Center (PFTC) is a unique program blending maximum field prescribed burning experience with a flexible curriculum of classroom instruction on foundational topics for prescribed fire practitioners.
The PFTC is headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida. Training locations are dispersed throughout Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Attendees will travel to several remote sites during their stay to take advantage of prescribed burning and learning opportunities with a variety of agencies, fuel types, and challenges such as urban interface.
The Southeast is an ideal site for the PFTC due to the year round burning programs of several agencies, broad prescription windows, and the high level of interagency cooperation. During their 20 day tour, individuals should expect to participate in prescribed burns conducted for a variety of objectives. The wildland urban interface is a focus of PFTC, and most participants will have opportunities to conduct burns in interface situations. This variety of field experience with the different prescriptions, planning procedures, and techniques of the various agencies offers an accelerated learning opportunity for the participants.
FY2019 20-Day Sessions:
- January 6, 2019 to January 25, 2019
- February 3, 2019 to February 22, 2019
- March 10, 2019 to March 29, 2019
- April 7, 2019 to April 26, 2019
- June 2, 2019 to June 21, 2019
FY2019 Agency Admin Workshops:
- October 25, 2018 to October 30, 2018
- February 28, 2019 to March 5, 2019
Location: National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center
Address: get directions
Contact Name: Greg Seamon, Fire Training Specialist, Tall Timbers
Contact E-mail: gseamon@talltimbers.org
Contact Phone: (850) 523-8631
For more information: Visit this site