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Fuel Chart

Whether we are looking at fuel moistures, ERC, BI or KBDI, we generally make the same associations when rating the percentiles. At the low end of the scale in the green and blue we see normal to below normal conditions. Initial attack should be successful with few complexities. At the upper end of the scale in the orange and red we see unusual or rare conditions, and we would expect to see complex fires where initial attack may often fail. So the difficult category to describe, and thus maybe the most important category for initial attack, is the middle or transition zone in the yellow. Somewhere in the yellow, fires transition from normal to problematic.

Charts of Fuel Moisture Thresholds

Today's Fire Danger Forecast

Fire Danger Rating Color Guide
Fire Danger Rating
and Color Code 		Description
Low (L)
(Green) 		Fuels do not ignite readily from small firebrands although a more intense heat source, such as lightning, may start fires in duff or punky wood. Fires in open cured grasslands may burn freely a few hours after rain, but woods fires spread slowly by creeping or smoldering, and burn in irregular fingers. There is little danger of spotting.
Moderate (M)
(Blue) 		Fires can start from most causes but, with the exception of lightning fires in some areas, the number of starts is generally low. Fires in open cured grasslands will burn briskly and spread rapidly on windy days. Timber fires spread slowly to moderately fast. The average fire is of moderate intensity, although heavy concentrations of fuel, especially draped fuel, may burn hot. Short distance spotting may occur, but is not persistent. Fires are not likely to become serious and control is relatively easy.
High (H)
(Yellow) 		All fine dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most causes. Unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape. Fires spread rapidly and short distance spotting is common. High intensity burning may develop on slopes or in concentrations of fine fuels. Fires may become serious and their control difficult unless they are attacked successfully while small.
Very High (VH)
(Orange) 		Fires start easily from all causes and, immediately after ignition, spread rapidly and increase quickly in intensity. Spot fires are a constant danger. Fires burning in light fuels may quickly develop high intensity characteristics such as long range spotting and fire whirlwinds when they burn in heavier fuels.
Extreme (E)
(Red) 		Fires start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious. Development into high intensity burning will usually be faster and occur from smaller fires than in the very high fire danger class. Direct attack is rarely possible and may be dangerous except immediately after ignition. Fires that develop headway in heavy slash or conifer stands may be unmanageable while the extreme burning conditions last. Under these circumstances the only effective and safe control actions are on the flanks until the weather changes or the fuel loading decreases.

Fire Weather Indices

Energy Release Component - (ERC):

The Energy Release Component is a number related to the available energy (BTU) per unit area (square foot) within the flaming front at the head of a fire. Since this number represents the potential “heat release” per unit area in the flaming zone, it can provide guidance to several important fire activities. It may also be considered a composite fuel moisture value as it reflects the contribution that all live and dead fuels have to potential fire intensity. The scale is open-ended or unlimited and, as with other NFDRS components, is relative. Conditions producing an ERC value of 24 represent a potential heat release twice that of conditions resulting in an ERC value of 12.

Burning Index (BI):

The Burning Index is a number related to the contribution of fire behavior to the effort of containing a fire. The BI (difficulty of control) is derived from a combination of Spread Component (how fast it will spread) and Energy Release Component (how much energy will be produced). In this way, it is related to flame length, which, in the Fire Behavior Prediction System, is based on rate of spread and heat per unit area. The BI is expressed as a numeric value related to potential flame length in feet multiplied by 10.

Fire Danger Rating:

A public information component of the NFDRS specific to the rating of fire danger. Adjective ratings are: low(L), moderate(M), high(H), very high(V) and extreme(E).

Ignition Component (IC):

The Ignition Component is a rating of the probability that a firebrand will cause a fire requiring suppression action. Since it is expressed as a probability, it ranges on a scale of 0 to 100. An IC of 100 indicates that every firebrand will cause a fire requiring action if it contacts a receptive fuel. Likewise an IC of 0 would mean that no firebrand would cause a fire requiring suppression action under those conditions. Note the emphasis is on action. The key is whether a fire will result that requires a fire manager to make a decision. The Ignition Component is more than the probability of a fire starting; it has to have the potential to spread.

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