Wildfire Protection AgenciesThroughout Oregon, hundreds of local, state and federal agency professionals work full time to reduce wildfire risk, increase community readiness, and respond when wildfires break out. Several hundred more skilled wildland firefighters work seasonally in the state.
This page has information targeted toward these professionals.
The Wildfire Risk Explorer includes robust mapping tools that wildfire agencies can use to access, manipulate and graphically view GIS data used to assess wildfire risk in Oregon:
The user-friendly Basic Mapping Tool allows visitors to easily explore and map geographical wildfire information - The Advanced Mapping Tool has a broader range of options for manipulating the GIS data layers and making complex maps
- Ready-Made Maps that do not require visitors to choose mapping options
- A Reporting Tool that allows wildfire agencies to generate graphs and charts of wildfire risk data
Users can customize the area and types of information they choose to view, depending on the area and issue they are interested in. For example, the WUI boundary for a particular community could be compared with fuels information in that area to help prioritize local fuels reduction projects.
ArcFuels is a library of ArcGIS macros that facilitates application of models such as FlamMap and FVS for developing and testing fuel treatment scenarios at stand and landscape scales. The macros also provide linkages between fire models and desktop database and spreadsheet software.
ArcFuels automates much of the data manipulation in the SPOT and Fireshed planning process used by the USFS to design fuel treatment projects, allowing for rapid design and evaluation of fuel management scenarios. ArcFuels integrates GIS analyses with spatial analyses for fuel treatment planning. The library is distributed as an ArcMap project file (.mxd) and is implemented on custom toolbars on the ArcMap interface.
Key functionality includes:
- Interactive linkage between digital imagery, vegetation data, wildfire models, and SVS, providing a map-based tool for data validation and design of stand fuel treatments;
- Spatial interface to FVS for landscape analysis
- Rapid scale-up of stand-specific treatments to simulate project-wide changes in vegetation and fuels
- FlamMap landscape file generation from ArcGIS grids (e.g. Landfire data) and FVS outputs
- FVS prescription analysis - find the optimal prescription to meet multiple management goals
ArcFuels downloads and install instructions, information about upcoming Arcfuels workshops, case study papers, and related web links are available at the Western Wildlands Environmental Threat Assessment Center website.
Links of Interest to Wildfire Professionals
The Pacific Northwest Coordinating Group (PNWCG) provides a coordinated interagency approach to wildfire management in Oregon and Washington. The PNWCG is composed of the USDA-Forest Service; USDI-Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service; Oregon Department of Forestry, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association.
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho is the nation’s support center for wildland firefighting. At NIFC, the USDA Forest Service, USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, the National Association of State Foresters, National Weather Service, and Office of Aircraft Services all work together to coordinate and support wildland fire and disaster operations.
The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC) is the northwest area geographic focal point for logistical wildfire support and intelligence for all federal and cooperating state wildland fire suppression agencies. NWCC facilitates movement of resources between agencies' units and monitors weather and prescribed burning activity. NWCC also responds to requests from the NIFC for support to other geographic areas, and provides training, workshops and response to projects or tasks assigned by the Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group.
The USFS Wildland Fire Assessment System (WFAS) provides a national view of weather and fire potential, including national fire danger and weather maps, satellite-derived "greenness" maps, and lightning ignition potential maps.
The Pacifc Northwest Training Center (Interagency Training Center) at the Redmond Air Center, supports Pacific Northwest aviation and fire management training needs for federal, state, and rural, city, and county fire departments.
Wildland Firefighting
The Firewise Resources for Firefighters section contains an instruction package with 3 videos:
- Fire Behavior in the Wildland/Urban Interface
- Structure Protection Strategies in the Wildland/Urban Interface
- Firefighter Safety in the Wildland/Urban Interface; an Instructor Guide
Wildland Firefighter magazine reaches active wildland firefighters and managers in fire departments, training academies, fire camps and government agencies across the United States and worldwide. Editorial content focuses on practical information, news, techniques and products to assist firefighters and fire managers.
The Wildlandfire.com website for wildland firefighters provides current wildland fire information, a large number of wildland fire photos, current news, jobs, training and links related to wildland firefighting.
The ODF Fire Program Review Workforce Capacity Report summarizes recommendations for improving the availability, readiness and training of wildfire professionals in Oregon.
The U.S. Fire Administration Wildfire page includes information about wildfire safety and training, and broadcast programs such Wildland Fire Training for Rural Fire Departments and Wildland-Urban Interface Fires: An Overview for Responders. Some programs are available on DVD.
Other Links
The USFS Firelab in Missoula, MT provides the following list of Wildland-Urban Fire publications and learning tools:
- A Site-Specific Approach for Assessing the Fire Risk to Structures at the Wildland/Urban Interface
- Examination of the Home Destruction in Los Alamos Associated with the Cerro Grande Fire July 10, 2000
- Modeling Potential Structure Ignitions from Flame Radiation Exposure with Implications for Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Management
- Preventing Disaster: Home Ignitability in the Wildland-Urban Interface
- "Protecting Your Home From Wildfire" - Video
- Reducing the Wildland Fire Threat to Homes: Where and How Much?
- Structure Ignition Assessment Can Help Reduce Fire Damages in the W-UI
- Structure Ignition Assessment Model (SIAM)
- What is the Wildland Fire Threat to Homes?
- Wildland-Urban Fire — A Different Approach
The Washington Department of Natural Resources Fire Prevention and Fuels Mapping System provides data and mapping options similar to those in the Oregon Wildfire Risk Explorer.
The USFS TreeSearch site offers over 150 downloadable documents pertaining to wildfire and fuels management, from technical papers and resource management guides to full color brochures targeted towards educating the general public.
The United States Fish & Wildlife Service Fire Management website includes information about USFWS wildfire-related activities in Oregon, and also about wildfire ecology and management in U.S. wildlife refuges, and wildfire training opportunities.
