US Forest Service Fire Modeling Institute

US Forest Service Fire Modeling Institute
Name	Fire Modeling Institute

US Forest Service Fire Modeling Institute

The Fire Modeling Institute is a research center within the United States Forest Service focused on quantitative analysis of wildland fire behavior, effects, and management. It supports applied science for agencies such as the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and partners including the Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, and academic institutions like the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Washington. The institute integrates fire ecology, atmospheric science, computational modeling, and decision support to inform operational planning for incidents such as the Hayman Fire, Camp Fire (2018), and Yellowstone fires of 1988.

Overview

The institute functions as an applied science unit within the Rocky Mountain Research Station and interfaces with regional Forest Service Region 1, Forest Service Region 5, and other field offices. It provides expertise in fire behavior models used in programs like Fire Behavior Analyst (FBA) certification and supports tools employed by Incident Command System teams such as Type 1 Incident Management Team and National Interagency Fire Center operations. Common outputs include model evaluations, fuel treatment analyses, and scenario planning used by stakeholders including the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), Federal Emergency Management Agency, and state forestry agencies.

History

The institute evolved from fire research carried out by the Forest Service, USDA research stations, and collaborations with university groups following major fires like the Mann Gulch Fire and policy shifts after the 10 AM Policy era. Its lineage traces through programs such as the Fire Sciences Laboratory (Missoula) and initiatives responding to events like the Oakland Hills firestorm of 1991 and national strategy documents including the National Fire Plan (2000). Over time, influences included modeling advances from groups at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and cross-agency reviews after incidents like the Station Fire (2009).

Mission and Objectives

The institute's mission aligns with mandates from the United States Department of Agriculture to provide science-based tools for wildland fire management. Objectives include improving predictive capacity for incidents like the Rim Fire (2013), advancing fuel treatment effectiveness for landscapes such as the Sierra Nevada, informing restoration projects in ecosystems like the Klamath Mountains, and supporting policy implementation tied to legislation such as the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003. It aims to bridge operational needs of groups like Interagency Hotshot Crew teams and strategic planners in agencies such as the National Park Service.

Research and Modeling Activities

Research spans fire behavior simulation, fire effects, smoke dispersion, and risk assessment. The institute evaluates models used in systems like QUIC-fire, FARSITE, BehavePlus, and modeling frameworks influenced by the Rothermel fire spread model and the Huygens principle applications in fireline dynamics. Work includes testing against observations from prescribed burns, post-fire studies in areas such as the Montana and California landscapes, and collaborations with organizations like Sandia National Laboratories, NASA, and the Environmental Protection Agency on smoke and air quality modeling relevant to incidents such as the Camp Fire (2018).

Tools and Technologies

The institute develops and supports decision-support tools and software used by field practitioners, integrating geospatial datasets from sources like the National Land Cover Database, LANDFIRE, and the National Elevation Dataset. It leverages high-performance computing resources similar to those at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and modeling platforms such as WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting model), GEOS-Chem-style frameworks, and agent-based approaches informed by work at the Santa Fe Institute. Tools for incident planning include adaptations of FARSITE, BehavePlus, and coupling with mapping tools used by the Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group.

Collaboration and Partnerships

The institute collaborates with federal partners including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, and state forestry offices, as well as international entities like the Canadian Forest Service and universities including the Colorado State University, Oregon State University, and the University of California, Davis. Partnerships extend to non-governmental organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and professional societies like the International Association of Wildland Fire. It engages with incident management programs coordinated by the National Interagency Fire Center and research consortia involving the Joint Fire Science Program.

Impact and Applications

Outputs support operational fire management, strategic fuel treatment design, smoke management plans used by the Environmental Protection Agency, and post-fire rehabilitation in regions like the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades. The institute's model evaluations inform training curricula for roles such as Fire Behavior Analyst and support policy development referenced in documents from the Office of Management and Budget and congressional briefings. Practical applications include improving firefighter safety for units like Hotshot crews, enhancing community wildfire protection planning in areas like Arizona and Colorado, and contributing to national assessments such as the National Climate Assessment.

Category:United States Forest Service Category:Wildfire suppression Category:Fire ecology