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CFFDRS References

  1. Online Resources
  2. User Guides
  3. Other References

Online Resources

Alaska CFFDRS - access to Alaska specific FWI displays (maps, tables, graphs) and database downloads along with FBP calculator.

Great Lakes CFFDRS - access to Great Lakes specific FWI displays (maps, tables, graphs) and database downloads along with FBP Calculator. NFDRS displays are also available.

FRAMES Online CFFDRS Course and YouTube Video Presentations provide background explanations of the FWI and FBP systems for US users.

REDapp - free, stand-alone FBP software (metric units).

Prometheus - growth simulation.

User Guides

These localized field guides provide desk and fireline references for estimating FWI codes and indices and conducting a fire behavior assessment using the FBP system.

Other References

Andrews, Patricia L., Modeling wind adjustment factor and midflame wind speed for Rothermel’s surface fire spread model. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-266. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2012.

Tables for the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System, Canadian Forestry Service, Forest Technical Report, 1984.

De Groot, W.J., Examples of Fuel Types in the Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) System, Forestry Canada, Poster. Forestry Canada Fire Danger Group. 1992.

Development and structure of the Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction System, Science and Sustainable Development Directorate. 

Hirsch, K.G., Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) System User's Guide, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre Special Report 7, 1996.

Kidnie, S.M., Wotton, M.M., Droog, W.N., Field Guide for Predicting Fire Behaviour in Ontario’s Tallgrass Prairie, 2010.

Lawson, B.D.; Armitage, O.B., Weather guide for the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System, Nat. Resour. Can., Can. For. Serv., North. For. Cent., 2008.

Tymstra, C.; Bryce, R.W.; Wotton, B.M.; Taylor, S.W.; Armitage, O.B., Development and structure of Prometheus: the Canadian Wildland Fire Growth Simulation Model, Nat. Resour. Can., Can. For. Serv., North. For. Cent., 2010.

Taylor, S.W., Pike, R.G., Alexander, M.E., Field Guide to the Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) System, Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre, Special Report, 1997.

Van Wagner, C.E., Development and structure of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System, Canadian Forest Service, Ottawa, Ont. Forest Technical Report 35, 1987.

Wotton, B.M.; Alexander, M.E.; Taylor, S.W., Updates and Revisions to the 1992 Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction System, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre,  2009.

Wotton B.M., A grass moisture model for the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System, Fire and Forest Meteorology Symposium, 2009.

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NWCG Latest Announcements

2025 Professional Reading Program

Date: February 18, 2025
Contact: Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program is announcing the 2025 Professional Reading list! The goal of the annual reading list is to promote the reading and discussion of the books throughout the year.

The five books chosen for this year are: Surf When You Can by Brett Crozier, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, Elephant Company by Vicki Constantine Croke, Simply Managing by Henry Mintzberg, and Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Metcalf.

References:

Professional Reading Program

Task Group Volunteers Needed to Update the Property Loss or Damage Report, OF 289

Date: February 5, 2025
Contact: Julie Bennett, Incident Business Committee Chair

The Incident Business Committee (IBC) is requesting volunteers for a new task group to revise the 1981 version of the Property Loss or Damage Report, OF 289 and create an incident replacement job aid. The volunteers may be recruited from within or outside the Geographic Area Incident Business Committees.

References:

IBC Memorandum 25-02

IBC Correspondence

2025 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

Date: February 4, 2025
Contact: Incident and Position Standards Committee

The NWCG Incident and Position Standards Committee has updated the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1. 

These updates address changes to incident position names and requirements for qualification, training, and experience. Updates related to the implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) are also included.  

The NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308 has also been updated to reflect the recent changes.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Wildland Fire Position Qualification Flowchart, PMS 308

NWCG Memo: 2025-01 January 2025 Updates to the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Positions Qualifications, PMS 310-1

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters

Date: January 15, 2025
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters. Non-specification fire shelters claiming to meet Forest Service (FS) fire shelter specification 5100-606 were first found in February of 2023. As of September 2024, non-specification shelters are again being advertised and sold on the open market.

This Safety Warning outlines details and recommended procedures to purchase FS specification shelters made with materials and components that meet performance criteria and toxicity testing requirements outlined in FS Specification 5100-606. 

For additional information on identifying non-specification shelters, please view ETC Safety Warning 23-01.

References:

ETC Safety Warning 25-001: Non-specification fire shelters

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee

ETC Safety Warning 23-01