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NFDRS

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What's New

National Weather Service (NWS) 7-day expansion of the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) forecast

From March 2 to May 31, 2020, the NWS will issue experimental seven-day NFDRS forecasts. At the end of this period, a decision will be made whether or not to make the expanded product operational for NFDRS forecasting.

NFDRS2016 Evaluation

Following the development of a draft FDOP, The updated rollout timeline has been extended to allow for evaluation/comparison of the legacy NFDRS outputs with the NFDRS2016 outputs. The intent is to provide field units with the tools needed to evaluate FDOP decision thresholds as a function of NFDRS2016 outputs. Additional resources are available on this website to assist with the transition from the legacy system to ide NFDRS2016.

Pre-Workshop Webinar Components

Fire Danger Operating Plan Examples


NFDRS2016 Rollout Plan (Update)

On July 24, 2019, the NWCG Executive Board approved a proposal from the Fire Danger Subcommittee to update the initial NFDRS2016 Rollout Plan. All units will be fully transitioned to NFDRS2016 by January 2021.

At the September 17th 2014 NWCG Executive Board meeting, three updates to the United States National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) were approved. 

  1. Incorporate the Growing Season Index (GSI) to compute live fuel moistures;
  2. Incorporate the Nelson Model to compute fine dead fuel moisture; and
  3. Reduce the number of fuel models in the NFDRS. 

View a PowerPoint presentation narrated by the Fire Danger Subcommittee Chair Jon Wallace; developed to explain the case for change to the NFDRS.


Background

The National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) has offered a consistent interagency decision-support framework since its inception in 1972. The System was first updated in 1978; and again in 1988. Although the original developers intended for periodic improvements to be incorporated as science and technology improved, the System has remained fundamentally unchanged the past 40 years. Today, there is even greater need for state-of-the-art tools to assist the wildland fire community sort through the daunting complexities and conflicting priorities which can confound decision-makers.

In 2013, research scientists from the USDA Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) proposed updates to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Fire Danger Subcommittee. In September 2014, the NWCG Executive Board issued Memorandum 14-018, approving a revision to the US National Fire Danger Rating System. Three significant changes were addressed:

  1. Incorporate the Growing Season Index (GSI) to compute live fuel moisture;
  2. Incorporate the Nelson Model to compute fine dead fuel moisture; and
  3. Reduce the number of fuel models in the NFDRS.

In September 2016, the NWCG Executive Board Issued Memorandum 16-019 providing an update of the transition to the 2016 version of NFDRS; otherwise known as NFDRS2016. The primary objective is to provide a stable NFDRS2016 system along with updates to the Weather Information Management System (WIMS) and FireFamilyPlus (FF+) to assure end-users are comfortable with the new model outputs and associated applications.

NFDRS2016 is a next-generation system which aligns with common interagency goals to use the best available science and technology to provide decision-makers with improved efficiencies, increased accuracy, and a much clearer understanding of the associated risks. Since interagency cooperation and collaboration (at every level) is essential for a successful transition to NFDRS2016, all agencies (State and Federal) with responsibility to make and implement risk-based wildfire management decisions are encouraged to participate in the roll-out process.

This web site has been designed to facilitate education regarding the new science and improve the utilization of NFDRS through the standard interagency applications of the system.

 

The National Fire Danger Rating System is supported by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group and monitored through their Fire Danger Sub Committee. All Federal, State and Local wildland fire management agencies are encouraged to work collaboratively with partners in their Dispatch Zones to create and adhere to a Fire Danger Operating Plan.

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

ETC Bulletin 25-001: Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits - 2025 Field Season

Date: April 16, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

Due to spout failures and the associated risk of burn injuries, manufacturers have retrofitted the Hot/Cold Beverage Kits using a heat-shrinking band to secure the black spout at the insertion site. The updated kits feature a fluorescent label on each full kit assembly for easy identification. Catering units are encouraged to confirm the clear heat-shrinking bands are intact around each spout before filling.

ETC Bulletin 24-001 regarding Hot/Cold Beverage Kits has been archived and replaced by ETC Bulletin 25-001 for the 2025 season.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC-EB-25-001 Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and Next Generation Position Task Book for Basic Faller Are Now Available

Date: April 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

The updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-19 are now available.

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212 includes position standards designed to be used in conjunction with the Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB). The Next Gen PTB for Basic Faller (FAL3) includes an evaluation guide with suggested rating elements to consider when assessing trainees.

References:

NWCG Standards For Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-119

NWCG Basic Faller (FAL3)

RMC Memo 25-01: Summary of Updates to Safety Officer Positions

Date: April 9, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
RMC Member Eric Fransted

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) serves as the position steward for all Safety Officer incident positions and continues to improve position standards, training, and naming conventions. The implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) required changes to position titles. RMC collaborated with the NWCG Incident Position Standards Committee (IPSC) to propose and implement these updates. 

References:

RMC Memo 25-01: Summary of Updates to Safety Officer Positions 

NWCG Position Catalog

Updated, NWCG Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination, PMS 412

Date: April 8, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee

PMS 412 provides guidance for wildland fire investigations. This guide outlines recommended procedures, practices, techniques, and methods to promote a systematic approach. The last update to this publication was in 2016.

References:

NWCG Guide to Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination PMS 412