This site outlines the primary tools for developing a prescription. These tools are meant to guide you in the process, not give you the answer. They each take time to learn but once you invest that time you can be more confident in your prescriptions.
FireFamilyPlus
You have to know where you have been to know where you might go - FF+ helps you analyse past weather so you can understand your weather history and make interpretations for your future probabilities.
FireFamilyPlus can seem like a moving target with different data download sites.
Here is a guide that I find helpful - it might be slightly of date but should get your started.
FireFamilyPlus can seem like a moving target with different data download sites.
Here is a guide that I find helpful - it might be slightly of date but should get your started.
| how-to-use_fire_family_plus.pdf |
Fire Behavior Fuel Model Selection
If you have the wrong inputs - you will get the wrong outputs. Make sure that you have selected the correct fire behavior fuel model. Here is the selection guide that I use. I print it on rite-in-the-rain paper, folded like a book. There is a mini-class on the wildland fire learning portal for instruction on how to use the graphs.
| fbfm40_reference_guide.pdf |
BehavePlus
BehavePlus is a simple and highly used program. The more students learn about the varibility in fire behavior and the assumptions in the model the more they question the accuracy of this and other fire and fuel modeling programs. Models are not accurte but they are useful - in this case BehavePlus is useful for several reasons
- It provides general patterns that can be expected in fire behavior e.g. at what fuel moisture and winds will fire behavior rapidly increase?
- It provides consistent output that can be used as a foundation to support the creation of the burn plan - a legal document that relies on the repeatable results of such a modeling system.
- It walks the user through a VERY important process of thinking through all of the variables that should be considered when generating a prescription.
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This video demonstrates how to develop a prescription with past weather information, experience, and BehavePlus output. The resources used in the video are linked to below
This prescription assignment includes the tables used in the video along with written direction on how to build the tables.
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FOFEM
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Many prescribed fire objectives are best modeled using the First Order Fire Effects Model (FOFEM). Such objectives include to fuel reduction, tree mortality, soil heating, smoke emissions. It is very important to include the inputs used so the user can consider this when interpreting the output.
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IFTDSS
This powerhouse of a tool is useful for all kinds of planning and reporting. Check out the mini-classes on the wildland fire learning portal for an IFTDSS overview and IFTDSS for prescribed fire planning.
There is a lot going on with this tool, expect regular updates.
There is a lot going on with this tool, expect regular updates.