This page describes an out-of-date version of the publication. Check out the current version: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2015-0047-4

Title:

Wildfire Hazard Potential (WHP) for the conterminous United States (270-m GRID), version 2018 classified (2nd Edition)

Author(s):

Dillon, Gregory K.

Publication Year:

2018

How to Cite:

These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Dillon, Gregory K. 2018. Wildfire Hazard Potential (WHP) for the conterminous United States (270-m GRID), version 2018 classified. 2nd Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2015-0046-2

Please note: This dataset is the product of modeling, and as such carries an inherent degree of error and uncertainty. Users must read and fully comprehend the metadata and other available documentation prior to data use. Users should acknowledge the Originator when using this dataset as a source. Users should share data products developed using the source dataset with the Originator. No warranty is made by the Fire Modeling Institute (FMI) or USDA Forest Service as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data for individual use or aggregate use with other data, or for purposes not intended by FMI. Inputs to the WHP map, and therefore the WHP map as well, are intended to support 1) national (all states) strategic planning, 2) regional (single large states or groups of smaller states) planning, and 3) strategic and possibly tactical planning for large sub-regional landscapes (including significant portions of states or multiple federal administrative entities). The applicability of the WHP map to support fire and land management planning on smaller areas will vary by location and specific intended use. Further investigation by local and regional experts should be conducted to inform decisions regarding local applicability. It is the sole responsibility of the local user, using product metadata and local knowledge, to determine if and/or how the WHP map can be used for particular areas of interest. The WHP map is not intended to replace local products where they exist, but rather serve as a back-up by providing wall-to-wall cross-boundary data coverage. It is the responsibility of the user to be familiar with the value, assumptions, and limitations of WHP map. Managers and planners must evaluate the WHP map according to the scale and requirements specific to their needs. Spatial information may not meet National Map Accuracy Standards. This information may be updated without notification.

Abstract:

Federal wildfire managers often want to know, over large landscapes, where wildfires are likely to occur and how intense they may be. To meet this need we developed a map that we call wildfire hazard potential (WHP) – a raster geospatial product that can help to inform evaluations of wildfire risk or prioritization of fuels management needs across very large spatial scales (millions of acres). Our specific objective with the WHP map was to depict the relative potential for wildfire that would be difficult for suppression resources to contain. To create the 2018 version, we built upon spatial estimates of wildfire likelihood and intensity generated in 2016 with the Large Fire Simulation system (FSim), as well as spatial fuels and vegetation data from LANDFIRE 2012 and point locations of fire occurrence from FPA (ca. 1992 – 2013). With these datasets as inputs, we produced an index of WHP for all of the conterminous United States at 270 meter resolution. We present the final WHP map as five WHP classes of very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. On its own, WHP is not an explicit map of wildfire threat or risk, but when paired with spatial data depicting highly valued resources and assets such as structures or powerlines, it can approximate relative wildfire risk to those specific resources and assets. WHP is also not a forecast or wildfire outlook for any particular season, as it does not include any information on current or forecasted weather or fuel moisture conditions. It is instead intended for long-term strategic fuels management.

Keywords:

environment; Ecology, Ecosystems, & Environment; Fire; Fire detection; Fire ecology; Fire effects on environment; Fire suppression, pre-suppression; Prescribed fire; Environment and People; Forest management; Landscape management; burn probability; hazard; fuels management; fire suppression; fire likelihood; fire planning; risk assessment; wildland fire potential; wildfire hazard potential; conterminous United States; United States; CONUS

Related publications:

• Dillon, Gregory K. 2015. Wildland Fire Potential (WFP) for the conterminous United States (270-m GRID), version 2012 classified. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2015-0044
• Dillon, Gregory K. 2015. Wildfire Hazard Potential (WHP) for the conterminous United States (270-m GRID), version 2014 classified. 1st Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2015-0046
• Dillon, Gregory K. 2018. Wildfire Hazard Potential (WHP) for the conterminous United States (270-m GRID), version 2018 continuous. 2nd Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2015-0047-2
• Dillon, Gregory K.; Menakis, James; Fay, Frank. 2015. Wildland fire potential: A tool for assessing wildfire risk and fuels management needs. p. 60-76. https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/pubs/49429 In: Keane, Robert E.; Jolly, Matt; Parsons, Russell; Riley, Karin. 2015. Proceedings of the large wildland fires conference. Proceedings. Proc. RMRS-P-73. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. May 19-23, 2014; Missoula, MT; 345 p. https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/pubs/49166

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