CDF/USFS Workshop on Fire Planning Methodologies
Minutes of May 24, 1996

Potential Collaborative Efforts

Data development: fuels

It may be possible for CDF ( including now the State Fire Marshal) and USFS to collaborate on the development and maintenance of a single set of fuel and hazard layers covering all lands in the state. Under the Board of Forestry (BoF) Fire Plan, CDF has begun to develop fuels and hazard layers covering LRA, SRA and FRA as well as business processes to update those layers as management and wildfire change fuels and hazard. Fire and Resources Assessment Program (FRAP) produces the first draft layers which are subsequently validated by Ranger Unit staff and thereafter become corporate data. New business processes will change the fuel and hazard layers to reflect pre-fire management projects, timber harvest under the Forest Practices Act and wildfires. Region 5 Fuels Management has provided funds to the Remote Sensing Lab (RSL) to generate fuels and hazard layers for NFS lands. The corporate data layers produced by CDF may serve as a starting point for the RSL work. The next step in scoping should 1)determine if the products required by CDF and USFS are sufficiently alike to justify a collaborative produced, 2) identify the options for coordinating Region 5 RSL work with the implementation schedule of the Fire Plan, and 3) develop the means by which to reflect USFS pre-fire management projects, harvest and other management activities in the corporate fuel and hazard layers.

Data development: weather

It may be possible for CDF and USFS to create a state weather database. CDF RAWS provide frequent but limited data, while federal NFDRS stations provide more complete data less frequently. The main issue involves merging these different data types. CDF Operations is interested in this project.

Data development: fire perimeters

CDF, USFS and other agencies could develop historic fire perimeter databases across all ownerships as well as business processes that automatically update such databases. Region 5 digitized historic fire perimeters in the Sierra as part of the California Spotted Owl EIS, while CDF has recently digitized all fires on CDF DPA from 1960-1989. The next step in creating a historic fire database involves documenting the various sources of perimeter data and completing data capture in areas not yet covered (non-Sierran NF, BLM lands, DOD lands, etc.) and for years before 1960 and after 1989. The next step in creating business processes involves understanding the current fire reporting protocols of each agency (e.g., fire reports, damage assessments by BAER and other efforts) and determining the mechanisms by which those protocols are revised (e.g. the Fire Plan for CDF) to include spatially explicit delineation of perimeters.

Data exchange: suppression resources

CDF and Region 5, USFS call on each other’s suppression resources in time of need. Both agencies attempt to account for each other’s resources in their respective initial attack simulators. Both agencies need to track changes in the other’s resources in order to estimate changes in total level of service and to generate appropriate responses. The next step in this process involves defining the exact nature of the data to be exchanged, identifying mechanisms and schedules for updating the data, and documenting appropriate uses for the data. This exchange may be best accomplished as part of the following activity.

Assessment: investigate the relationship between Fire Plan methodology and National Forest lands

The CDF Fire Plan develops hazard, weather, and asset coverages for all lands, including NF lands, within the administrative boundaries of CDF Ranger Units but calculates level of service, calibrates CFES2 and supports pre-fire planning for only CDF DPA lands. It might be useful to conduct a pilot project involving a CDF Ranger Unit and the adjacent National Forest (e.g. Tuolumne-Calaveras RU and Stanislaus National Forest) that carries out these analyses for USFS DPA lands as well. This exercise would familiarize each agency’s staff with the appropriate interpretation of the other agency’s data, scope out data validation requirements, illuminate relations between CFES and NFMAS, and determine if new pre-fire and suppression possibilities emerge when the entire landscape is considered. The next step in scoping involves determining the exact nature of the analysis and the questions it would answer, developing a written proposal that specifies a pilot location and gaining approvals at the necessary levels in each organization.

Planning methodologies: NFMAS

CDF has gained considerable insight into fire planning as a result of the Board of Forestry (BoF) Fire Plan. Since both Region 5 and the national program within USFS might benefit from CDF’s experience, CDF should continue to participate in discussions framing Region 5's contract work with Rockwell as well as national discussions framing improvements in NFMAS.

Planning methodologies: mutual education

It is important to expand understanding of each agencies planning methods. To this end, CDF Fire Plan staff should present CDF’s method to USFS Fire Management Officers. Similarly, the participants of the current meeting should schedule additional meetings for CDF to explore USFS planning methods.

Participants

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact Greg Greenwood via e-mail at greg.greenwood@fire.ca.gov or by phone at (916) 227-2655.

Last edited on June 4, 1997 by Greg Greenwood