What is the fire danger now? Linking fuel inventories with atmospheric data

Abstract

The combination of forest fuel maps with real-time atmospheric data may enable the creation of more dynamic and comprehensive assessments of fire danger. The goal of this study was to combine fuel maps, based on data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program of the USDA Forest Service, with real-time atmospheric data for the creation of a more dynamic index of fire danger. Results indicated fuel loadings and moisture could be estimated for specific points on a meteorological modeling grid network (4 × 4 km; based on FIA's strategic-scale fuel inventory and atmospheric data) enabling the current assessment and 1- to 2-day prediction of fire danger as well as refined understanding of fire danger across forest ecosystems.