The fire behavior prediction component of the CFFDRS equation sytem uses empirical relationships derived from years of research to predict the behavior of an ingnited wildland fire in the given conditions.

Sourcing Observations or Forecasts from Stations

This tool can integrate with one of our fire services to set location and import weather and FWI values from a real-world station. To configure this, simply expand the top tab and select the service you want to import from, enter a station ID, and click "Search and Use." The station, if valid, will then be shown in the "Selected STID" line above, and in the tab when it is closed. To clear a selection click the "Clear" button next to the STID search. Finally, choose if we import hourly or daily FFMC from a fire service from the "FFMC Type" selection.

Once you have selected a station for importing, every time you alter a timing setting we will import the best data for that station, overwriting your current environmental settings. Wind speed and direction are always sourced from hourly sources, FFMC will be based on your selection, and BUI will alwas come from the daily value for the date displayed (midnight-midnight) (BUI is computed for the warmest time of the day). If a value is not available (e.g. there are no wind direction forecasts) that entry will be rendered invalid, and a value will have to be manually provided.

MesoWest sourced data will not have any FWIs, even if the station also exists in one of our fire services. To receive automatic FWI data, you must use a fire service (e.g. AKFF or GLFF).

Documentation

This tool uses procedures and equations outlined in the following literature:

Forestry Canada Fire Danger Group. 1992. Development and structure of the Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction System. Information Report ST-X-3. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Forestry Canada, Science and Sustainable Development Directorate. 63 p.

Wotton, B.M.; Alexander, M.E.; Taylor, S.W. 2009. Updates and Revisions to the 1992 Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction System. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Information Report GLC-X-10, 45p.