WFAS - Wildland Fire Assessment System

Overview Last updated: August 09, 2002

Example of Fire Danger Rating continental map WFAS, the Wildland Fire Assessment System, is an internet-based information system. The current implementation provides a national view of weather and fire potential, including national fire danger and weather maps and satellite-derived "Greenness" maps (Burgan and others 1997). Development is continuing. See News for current information.

WFAS was first made available in 1994. In 1999 operation was transferred from the Fire Sciences Laboratory (FS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula MT) to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC, Boise, ID).

WFAS was redesigned in 2002 to provide easier access to products and vastly improve the archival process. The archives now provide real-time access to past map images including fire danger, heavy fuel moisture, Haines Index, and greenness.

The navigation bar on the left organizes products by category. Selection provides access to links along with a description of the product.

Forest Service Fire Danger indicator sign The Quick Links table provides direct access to products, which are categorized as

  • Current conditions
  • Forecast
  • Image archive (just pictures)
  • Data archive


Archives are organized by calendar. Variables available for each day are listed.

  • A 4-panel graphic can be produced to compare four years for the same day.
  • An animation of the previous 7 images can be displayed.

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