Fuel Characteristics

Fire and Environmental Research Applications Team

Pacific Northwest Research Station

Seattle, Washington

Website: www.fs.fed.us/pnw/fera

Roger Ottmar

Combustion

Emissions Estimates

Major Error

Major Error

Photo Series

FCCS

Fuels Are A Key Component To Effects

Fuel Loading

Fuel Consumption

• Measuring (most accurate and time consuming)- line intersect- clip/weighing- measuring/biometric equations

• Photo series (good alternative to measuring)

• Fuel Characteristic Classification System (good, available mid-2004)

• Assign fuel model (poor)• Remote sensing (fair at this time)• Guess (often used)

Fuels Data Collection

What are the photo series?

• A simple and easily used tool to characterize fuelbeds for fuels and fire planning and other ecological assessments at the stand scalecomposed of:

–Single/stereo photos–Fuels data

Photo Series Sample Layout

Crown Fire

Surface Fire

Smoldering

SnagTree Other

Aerial FuelsOther Aerial Fuels

Canopy Stratum

ShrubsNeedle Drape

Shrub Stratum

Graminoids HerbsNon woody Stratum

StumpsPiles and Jackpots Sound Wood Rotten Wood Woody Fuel

Stratum

MossLichen

LitterMoss, Lichen, Litter Stratum

DuffGround Fuel Stratum

Basal Accumulation

Measured Fuelbed Strata and Categories

Borderlands

Missouri BreaksNortheast

Natural Fuels Photo Series

• 10 volumes completed• 5 in progress• Training package• Approximately 2 volumes per year

Fuel Characteristic Classification Fuel Characteristic Classification SystemSystem

Fire and Environmental Research Applications TeamFire and Environmental Research Applications Team

Pacific Pacific WildlandWildland Fire Sciences LaboratoryFire Sciences Laboratory

Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington

Website: Website: www.fs.fed.us/pnw/ferawww.fs.fed.us/pnw/fera

Roger Roger OttmarOttmar, David Sandberg, Susan Prichard, , David Sandberg, Susan Prichard, Cynthia Cynthia RiccardiRiccardi, and Jennifer Key , and Jennifer Key

NFP Region 6

JFSP

What is FCCS?

• Software tool

• Comprehensive set of default fuelbeds with:–assigned and calculated characteristics–fire potentials

• Allows customization of fuelbeds

• Assignment at multi-scales across the United States

Crown Fire

Surface Fire

Smoldering, Residual Effects

SnagTree

Other Aerial FuelsOther Aerial Fuels

Canopy Stratum

Shrubs

Needle Drape

Shrub Stratum

Graminoids HerbsNonwoody Vegetation Stratum

StumpsPiles and Jackpots Sound Wood Rotten Wood Woody Fuel

Stratum

Moss

Lichen

LitterMoss, Lichen, Litter Stratum

DuffGround Fuel Stratum

The use of fuelbed strata facilitates the creation of spatial data layers and allows the user to include, combine or

exclude as much detail as needed to suit an application.

Basal Accumulation

Fuelbed Strata and Categories

FCCS FunctionsFCCS Functions1.1. DatabaseDatabase

•• store and organize store and organize fuelbedfuelbed data, data, •• expert system to select and expert system to select and adjustadjust fuelbedsfuelbeds

2.2. CalculatorCalculator•• determine loadings, particle densities, etc. determine loadings, particle densities, etc.

throughout the fuel layers,throughout the fuel layers,•• calculate values necessary for other calculate values necessary for other

software packages and models,software packages and models,

3.3. Classification SystemClassification System•• efficient way to communicate real fuels data efficient way to communicate real fuels data

and evaluate risk (fire potentials)and evaluate risk (fire potentials)

FCCS Fuelbeds• FCCS data base contains 265 default

fuelbed prototypes– Represent a broad variety of common

vegetation types– Associated change agents

• Allows customization of fuelbeds

• Several thousand additional default fuelbed prototypes will be added in 2004 and 2005.

Outputs• By the 16 fuelbed categories (inferred, calculated)

– Percent cover (%)– Height to Live Crown (ft)– Tree: DBH (in), Density (tree/acre), Tree Height (ft) – Fuel Loading (t/a)– Litter/Duff Depth (in)– Fuel Depth (ft)– Fuel Area Index – Heat of Combustion (btu/lb)– Packing Ratio – Optimum Packing Ratio – Fire Behavior, Crown Fire, Available Fuel Potentials (index)– Confidence (1-5)

FCCS Potential Index:

Reaction Potential

Spread Potential

Flame Length Potential

Torch Potential

Dependent Crown Fire Potential

Independent Crown Fire Potential

Flame Available

Fuel

Smoldering Available

Fuel

Residual Available

Fuel

Fire Behavior Potential

Crown Fire Potential

Available Fuel Potential

Index: 0-10 Index 0-10 Index 0-10

4 6 6

FCCS Fire Potentials Flow Chart

FirewiseUnit

FCCS 466 FCCS 223

FB CF AF FB CF AF

FCCS 366

FCCS 333

FCCS 443

FCCS 471

FCCS 466

FCCS 466

FCCS 452

FCCS 466

FCCS 315

FCCS 231

FCCS 466FCCS 466FCCS 352

FCCS 446FCCS 446

FCCS 446

FCCS 346

FCCS 446

FCCS 146

FCCS 246

FCCS 446

FCCS 352

FCCS 352

FCCS 352

FCCS 366

FCCS 333

FCCS 443

FCCS 471

FCCS 466

FCCS 466

FCCS 452

FCCS 466

FCCS 315

FCCS 231

FCCS 466FCCS 466FCCS 352

FCCS 446FCCS 446

FCCS 446

FCCS 346

FCCS 446

FCCS 146

FCCS 246

FCCS 446

FCCS 352

FCCS 352

FCCS 352

Select fuelbed prototype

Review assigned variables of selected fuelbed in FCCS editor

Customize Fuelbed

Calculate fuelbed properties

Generate output reports

Characteristics by fuelbed strata and category

Characteristics by fuelbed strata and category

FCCS potentials

FCCS potentials

Information Flow in FCCSEcoregion

Veg. form

Structure

Cover

Change agent

Fire regime

Condition class

ApplicationApplication---- National Fire Plan Regional Haze Project, EPA National Fire Plan Regional Haze Project, EPA Emissions Inventory Fuels Map, and test Forests for Region 6 Emissions Inventory Fuels Map, and test Forests for Region 6

(McKenzie, Sandberg, and (McKenzie, Sandberg, and OttmarOttmar))

0 175 350 525Miles

Arizona white oak - Silverleaf oak - Emory oak woodlandBlack cottonwood - Alder - Ash forestBlack oak woodlandBluebunch wheatgrass - Bluegrass grasslandChamise - Redshank chaparral shrublandChihuahua pine - Apache pine - Arizona cypress forestCoastal sage shrublandCreosote bush shrublandDouglas-fir - Pacific ponderosa pine / Oceanspray forestDouglas-fir - Sugar pine - Tanoak forestDouglas-fir - Tanoak - Madrone forestGambel oak - Sagebrush shrublandGrand fir forestGray pine / Ceanothus forestIdaho fescue - Bluebunch wheatgrass grasslandInterior Douglas-fir - Ponderosa pine forestInterior ponderosa pine - Douglas-fir - Engelmann spruce forestInterior ponderosa pine - Douglas-fir - White fir forestInterior ponderosa pine forestLive oak woodlandLodgepole pine forestMesquite savannaMountain hemlock - Red fir - White pine - Lodgepole pine forestOregon white oak / Douglas-fir forestPacific ponderosa pine - Douglas-fir forestPacific ponderosa pine / Snowberry forestPacific ponderosa pine savannaPacific silver fir - Mountain hemlock forestPine - Black oak forestsPine - Oak forestPinyon - Juniper forestPonderosa pine - Jeffrey pine forestPonderosa pine - Pinyon pine - Juniper forestPonderosa pine savannaRed fescue - Oatgrass grasslandRed fir forestRedwood - Douglas-fir forestSagebrush / Bitterbrush shrublandSagebrush shrublandScrub oak - Chaparral shrublandShowy sedge - Alpine black sedge grasslandSubalpine fir - Engelmann spruce - Lodgepole pine forestSubalpine fir/ Engelmann spruce forestSugar pine - Douglas-fir - Ponderosa pine / Oak forestTanoak - California bay - Madrone forestTobosa - Grama grasslandTrembling aspen / Engelmann spruce forestTrembling aspen forestTurbinella oak - Ceanothus - Mountain mahogany shrublandVaccinium - Heather shrublandsWestern hemlock - Douglas-fir - Sitka spruce forestWestern hemlock - Douglas-fir - Western redcedar / Vine maple forestWestern hemlock - Western redcedar - Douglas-fir forestWestern juniper / Huckleberry oak forestWestern juniper / Sagebrush savannaWheatgrass - Cheatgrass grasslandWhite fir - Douglas-fir forestWhitebark pine / Subalpine fir forestWhitebark pine / Western juniper savanna

FCCS western fuelbeds

0 175 350 525Miles0 175 350 525Miles

Arizona white oak - Silverleaf oak - Emory oak woodlandBlack cottonwood - Alder - Ash forestBlack oak woodlandBluebunch wheatgrass - Bluegrass grasslandChamise - Redshank chaparral shrublandChihuahua pine - Apache pine - Arizona cypress forestCoastal sage shrublandCreosote bush shrublandDouglas-fir - Pacific ponderosa pine / Oceanspray forestDouglas-fir - Sugar pine - Tanoak forestDouglas-fir - Tanoak - Madrone forestGambel oak - Sagebrush shrublandGrand fir forestGray pine / Ceanothus forestIdaho fescue - Bluebunch wheatgrass grasslandInterior Douglas-fir - Ponderosa pine forestInterior ponderosa pine - Douglas-fir - Engelmann spruce forestInterior ponderosa pine - Douglas-fir - White fir forestInterior ponderosa pine forestLive oak woodlandLodgepole pine forestMesquite savannaMountain hemlock - Red fir - White pine - Lodgepole pine forestOregon white oak / Douglas-fir forestPacific ponderosa pine - Douglas-fir forestPacific ponderosa pine / Snowberry forestPacific ponderosa pine savannaPacific silver fir - Mountain hemlock forestPine - Black oak forestsPine - Oak forestPinyon - Juniper forestPonderosa pine - Jeffrey pine forestPonderosa pine - Pinyon pine - Juniper forestPonderosa pine savannaRed fescue - Oatgrass grasslandRed fir forestRedwood - Douglas-fir forestSagebrush / Bitterbrush shrublandSagebrush shrublandScrub oak - Chaparral shrublandShowy sedge - Alpine black sedge grasslandSubalpine fir - Engelmann spruce - Lodgepole pine forestSubalpine fir/ Engelmann spruce forestSugar pine - Douglas-fir - Ponderosa pine / Oak forestTanoak - California bay - Madrone forestTobosa - Grama grasslandTrembling aspen / Engelmann spruce forestTrembling aspen forestTurbinella oak - Ceanothus - Mountain mahogany shrublandVaccinium - Heather shrublandsWestern hemlock - Douglas-fir - Sitka spruce forestWestern hemlock - Douglas-fir - Western redcedar / Vine maple forestWestern hemlock - Western redcedar - Douglas-fir forestWestern juniper / Huckleberry oak forestWestern juniper / Sagebrush savannaWheatgrass - Cheatgrass grasslandWhite fir - Douglas-fir forestWhitebark pine / Subalpine fir forestWhitebark pine / Western juniper savanna

Arizona white oak - Silverleaf oak - Emory oak woodlandBlack cottonwood - Alder - Ash forestBlack oak woodlandBluebunch wheatgrass - Bluegrass grasslandChamise - Redshank chaparral shrublandChihuahua pine - Apache pine - Arizona cypress forestCoastal sage shrublandCreosote bush shrublandDouglas-fir - Pacific ponderosa pine / Oceanspray forestDouglas-fir - Sugar pine - Tanoak forestDouglas-fir - Tanoak - Madrone forestGambel oak - Sagebrush shrublandGrand fir forestGray pine / Ceanothus forestIdaho fescue - Bluebunch wheatgrass grasslandInterior Douglas-fir - Ponderosa pine forestInterior ponderosa pine - Douglas-fir - Engelmann spruce forestInterior ponderosa pine - Douglas-fir - White fir forestInterior ponderosa pine forestLive oak woodlandLodgepole pine forestMesquite savannaMountain hemlock - Red fir - White pine - Lodgepole pine forestOregon white oak / Douglas-fir forestPacific ponderosa pine - Douglas-fir forestPacific ponderosa pine / Snowberry forestPacific ponderosa pine savannaPacific silver fir - Mountain hemlock forestPine - Black oak forestsPine - Oak forestPinyon - Juniper forestPonderosa pine - Jeffrey pine forestPonderosa pine - Pinyon pine - Juniper forestPonderosa pine savannaRed fescue - Oatgrass grasslandRed fir forestRedwood - Douglas-fir forestSagebrush / Bitterbrush shrublandSagebrush shrublandScrub oak - Chaparral shrublandShowy sedge - Alpine black sedge grasslandSubalpine fir - Engelmann spruce - Lodgepole pine forestSubalpine fir/ Engelmann spruce forestSugar pine - Douglas-fir - Ponderosa pine / Oak forestTanoak - California bay - Madrone forestTobosa - Grama grasslandTrembling aspen / Engelmann spruce forestTrembling aspen forestTurbinella oak - Ceanothus - Mountain mahogany shrublandVaccinium - Heather shrublandsWestern hemlock - Douglas-fir - Sitka spruce forestWestern hemlock - Douglas-fir - Western redcedar / Vine maple forestWestern hemlock - Western redcedar - Douglas-fir forestWestern juniper / Huckleberry oak forestWestern juniper / Sagebrush savannaWheatgrass - Cheatgrass grasslandWhite fir - Douglas-fir forestWhitebark pine / Subalpine fir forestWhitebark pine / Western juniper savanna

FCCS western fuelbeds

0 175 350 525Miles

High : 158

Low : 0

Available fuel (tons/acre)

FCCS western fuelbeds

Class 1 areas

0 175 350 525Miles

High : 158

Low : 0

High : 158High : 158

Low : 0

Available fuel (tons/acre)

FCCS western fuelbeds

Class 1 areasClass 1 areas

FCCS TimelineFCCS Timeline

•• FCCS test prototypeFCCS test prototype——May 30, 2004May 30, 2004––265 265 fuelbedfuelbed prototypes prototypes ––Draft user manualDraft user manual––Looking for beta testersLooking for beta testers

•• FCCS final releaseFCCS final release——October, 2004October, 2004

•• Linkage to Consume 3.0. FOFEM, FETM, Linkage to Consume 3.0. FOFEM, FETM, FEPS, FASTRACS, FVS, etc FEPS, FASTRACS, FVS, etc

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