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PMS 437

Fuel Moisture: NASA SPoRT Land Information System

The NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center has developed a Real-Time Land Information System (LIS), using satellite-derived datasets, ground-based observations, and model reanalysis to inform weather models with influences from the land surface. The link, above, allows you to select data by date and product but, for near real-time observations, the SPoRT Viewer may be easier to navigate and explore.

Products are updated daily and include:

  • Volumetric Soil Moisture represents actual moisture in a soil column.
  • Relative Soil Moisture represents the soil moisture for a given soil column on a relative scale between soil saturation and wilting levels.
  • Column-Integrated Relative Soil Moisture combines four column depths down to 200cm.
  • Green Vegetation Fraction-current and trends-from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).
  • Land surface temperature and Heat Flux.

Soil Moisture products evaluate conditions at five levels:

  • 0-10 cm – relates most directly to the Fire Weather Index (FWI) Du Moisture Code, or DMC
  • 10-40 cm – relates most directly to the FWI Drought Code, or DC
  • 40-100 cm
  • 100-200 cm
  • 0-200 cm Integrated Column

Available at 3km resolutions for the Continental U.S. (CONUS), analysts should consider using the following:

Column-Integrated Relative Soil Moisture products to assess current drought levels and changes over one week, two weeks, one month, three months, six months, and one year.

Green Vegetation Fraction products that are updated daily in lieu of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) that are updated on only a weekly basis. Current conditions are augmented by 1-month, 2-month, 3-month, 4-month, and 1-year change products.

Relative Soil Moisture products that may be correlated to fuel moisture contents applied in fire effects and fire spread models. A 0-10 cm 1-day change product provides an assessment of rainfall effects on the top soil layer that relates to fuel moisture in carrier fuels.

Relative Soil Moisture for top 2 centimeters. Example graphic from the SPoRT Land Information System for April 18th of 2017.

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Quarter Three Materials for the 2025-2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign Now Available

Date:  April 1, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Quarter Three materials for the 2025/2026 Wildland Fire Leadership Campaign are now available. This annual initiative offers all students of leadership and wildland fire management an opportunity to engage with essential leadership skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in dynamic environments.

Quarter Three materials focus on Leadership Level 3: Leader of People (Develop Intent). Leadership Level 3 is where your values, your team, and your influence come together. Leaders of People put their teams first, build trust, and lead with authenticity. They mentor future leaders and shape decisions up and down the chain.

References:

2025/2026 NWCG Leadership Campaign - Leadership Levels

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Leadership Committee

WFSTAR 2026 Core Components Module Package and 2025 Fire Year in Review Now Available

Date:  March 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Joe Schindel

The 2026 Core Components Module Package for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) and the 2025 Fire Year in Review are now available on the NWCG website. The 2026 Core Components Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

References:

2026 Core Components Module Package

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NEW! S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended) Available Now

Date:  March 17, 2026
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Please contact: Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior Calculations (Blended), 2026 course is now available.

This training includes performance-based activities that allow students to apply the knowledge and concepts required for the Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN), Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN), and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 1 (RXB1) positions. It supports individuals working towards these incident qualifications.

This blended course begins with a self-paced online training (OLT) in the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP), followed by an in-person instructor-led training (ILT).

References:

S-490, Advanced Fire Calculations (Blended)

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2024 Paul Gleason Award Winners Announced

Date:  March 13, 2026
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The NWCG Leadership Committee is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Paul Gleason "Lead By Example" awards. Award categories include Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Justin Baxter, National Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Operations Specialist, with the U.S. Forest Service — Initiative and Innovation
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  • Doug Booster, Instructor, ProHealth Net, Inc. — Motivation and Vision
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References:

Paul Gleason Lead By Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

Leadership Committee