NFDRS -- National Fire Danger Rating System

DESCRIPTION

According to the USDA Forest Service, the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) is a system used by wildland fire management agencies to assess current fire danger at local levels. The system is the keystone of interagency fire danger predictions and provides quantification of risk elements that are critical for daily decisions regarding firefighter resource placement, staffing levels, appropriate suppression responses, and strategic decisions at local, geographical area and national levels. The most important value among those provided by this data is consideration for firefighter safety.

There are several software packages that incorporate NFDRS with weather data to calculate fire codes. One example is Fire Weather Plus, developed by FTS, Inc. Omni-Weather has developed area-specific NFDRS models for the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado. Klaver, et al, describe the use of NFDRS with GIS to evaluate fire hazards for the mediterranean region of the United States.

SCALE AND AREAS OF APPLICATION

SURVEY COMMENTS

21 survey respondents reported using NFDRS.  More than half of these respondents indicated that they use NFDRS assess fire danger locally. All respondents consider it a very important tool and either somewhat or very good at being able to do what they need it to do.  Less than one-third of the respondents believe there is a need to change to or develop a better tool.

BENEFITS (PROS)

COSTS (CONS)

RECOMMENDATIONS