Skip to main content

Firefighter Math: 5.4 Perimeter and Area Estimation Charts

The perimeter and area of a fire can be determined by using estimation charts as shown below. These charts require knowledge of the spread distance in chains and the effective windspeed in miles per hour. A fire area/size worksheet is provided to be filled out with the data collected.

EFFECTIVE WINDSPEED

Effective windspeed is the midflame windspeed, corrected for the effects of slope on fire spread. Changes in slope affect how wind influences a fire and the overall fire spread. For slopes above 20%, each additional 20% increase in slope translates to an additional 1 mph increase in the effective equivalent “upslope” component of the wind. For slopes between 20% and 40%, for example, a 1-mph slope-equivalent upslope component would be added to the flame-level wind. Between 40% and 60%, a 2-mph slope-equivalent upslope component would be added, and above 60%, flame-level winds would increase by 3 mph.
 

screengrab of animation of flame heights increasing as slope increases
Click to view animation of slope effects on fire

Example 1 - A fire starts at point A. Given the following values, determine the fire perimeter. 
rate of spread = 5 ch/h, projection time = 3 h, effective windspeed = 10 mi/h

Step 1. Use the equation for determining the spread distance (see Section 5.3).
ROS × PT = 5 ch/h × 3 h = 15 chains spread distance.

Step 2.> Look at the perimeter estimation chart. Find a spread distance of 15 chains on the vertical axis. Move your gaze across horizontally.

Step 3. Find an effective windspeed of 10 miles/hour on the horizontal axis, which is between 9 miles/hour and 11 miles/hour. Follow the column down vertically.

Step 4. Where the two lines intersect, read the number. In this case there are two numbers.
34 chains and 33 chains

Step 5. Take an average of the two values.
34.0 chains + 33.0 chains / 2 = 33.5 chains

The perimeter of the fire is 33.5 chains.

Example 2 - Determine the area of the fire in Example 1 and complete the fire area/size worksheet. The spread distance is the same, 15 chains.

Step 1. Reference the area estimation chart for a spread distance of 15 chains. Follow the row across horizontally.

Step 2. Look for an effective windspeed of 10 miles/hour, which is between 9 miles/hour and 11 miles/hour. Follow the column down vertically and read the numbers from the two windspeeds.
4.9 acres and 5.7 acres

Step 3. Take an average of the two values.
4.9 acres + 5.7 acres / 2 = 5.3 acres

The area of the fire is 5.3 acres.

Perimeter estimation for point source fires.
Table showing Perimeter Estimation

Area estimation for point source fires.
point source fires

Fire Area/Size Worksheet

Line Input    
0 PP Projection point A
1 ROS Rate of spread, ch/h 5
2 EWS Effective windspeed, mi/h 10
3 PT Projection time, h 3
4 SDF Spread distance, ch 15
  Output    
  PER Perimeter, ch 33.5
  AC Area, ac 5.3

NWCG Latest Announcements

Leadership Committee IAP Flyer Now Available

Date:  May 8, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee promotes and enables leadership development across the wildland fire service. The committee provides education, training opportunities, and support for leadership innovation and best practices throughout the community.

A new IAP flyer is now available on the committee website, offering an overview of the products, curriculum, and learning opportunities the Leadership Committee develops. This resource is ideal for posting in your office, sharing with new employees, or distributing through your incident management teams to engage new voices in the leadership journey and reinforce a culture of self‑reflection, development, and growth.

References:

Leadership Committee 2026 IAP Flyer

Incident Operations Subcommittee Updates the Next Generation Position Task Book for FFT1

Date:  May 7, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

The NWCG Incident Operations Subcommittee (IOSC) has updated the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14. The FFT1 Position Task Book transitioned to the Next Generation (Next Gen PTB) format in June 2025 through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. Since then, IOSC has received feedback from the wildland fire community regarding coding for one of the tasks. Task #13 has been updated to include the option of evaluation in a simulation.

See IOSC Memorandum 26‑01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14 for more information.

References:

IOSC Memorandum 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Postion Task Book for Firefighter Type 1

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page 

NEW! S-212, Intermediate Faller (Online) Course Available Now 

Date:  April 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S‑212, Intermediate Faller (Online), course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). This second course in the series provides students with the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of an Intermediate Faller (FAL2), as described in the FAL2 Incident Position Description. This course is intended for individuals seeking to advance from Basic Faller (FAL3) to FAL2.

S‑212, Intermediate Faller is a fully online, self‑paced training program consisting of 13 units. Learners will engage with interactive, scenario‑based content designed to progressively build foundational skills and knowledge essential for the FAL2 role.

Students must be qualified as a Basic Faller (FAL3) prior to enrolling in S‑212, Intermediate Faller course.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2027.

References:

S-212 Intermediate Faller (Online)

RMC Memo 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementing Updates to Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Qualifications

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

New Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

Date:  April 17, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: National Coordination System Committee

A new publication from the National Coordination System Committee (NCSC) is now available. The NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249, will be used for aviation crews and dispatch to share flight information that is needed for resource tracking, and if needed, for emergency procedures.

For further details, please contact your NCSC representative. 

References:

NCSC Memo 26-01: Implementation of NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249