Current Topics:
FPA System Reference
Links:FPA system helpdesk at fire_help@fs.fed.us or at: 1-800-253-5559.
FPA "Quick Start" instruction guide. The Quick Start instruction guide walks FPUs through the initial FPA process with reference and instructional links.
Review the FPA White Papers. These papers will describe how the model uses different resources, fuel treatments, or data.
FPA User Guide is available on the FPA web site. It walks the user through the system step by step.
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 High Level FPA Model Assumptions: A number of assumptions were approved and adopted during the development of the FPA system, such as, but not limited to:
- Use of existing broad scale enterprise data sources (example: LANDFIRE)
- Use of standard fuel models (Scott & Burgan and Anderson)
- Use of National Wildfire Coordinating Group's (NWCG) constant production rates for initial response resources
- FPU-driven inputs that are based on land and fire management plans
- FPA outputs were designed to respond to FPA performance metrics based on concerns expressed by the interagency Wildland Fire Leadership Council
- Interagency FPUs would work in collaboration to develop strategies that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the FPU's fire management programs
Fire Planning Unit's and Management Advisory Team's (MAT) Feedback is being shared with the Interagency Science Team and Executive Oversight Group. Their suggestions include:
- Consistency in guidance for Fire Planning Units to use in developing their investment alternatives and submitting to the national goal programming tool.
- Continue to improve the national data sets (LANDFIRE, Wildland Urban Interface, and nationally significant Highly Valued Resources)
- Improvements in collecting/compiling local data used in the analysis, such as, historic fire records and weather data
- Development of a local tool to display trade-off analysis and what-if scenarios.
FPA's Interagency Science Team (IST) Preliminary Findings Encouraging. Members of the FPA IST were in Boise the week of April 13, to do hands-on analysis of Wave 1 and 2 FPU's investment alternatives for FY2011. The focus of this review was to answer basic quality assurance questions.
FPA application components work as envisioned
- Extensive examination of Initial Response Simulator (IRS) by the FPA development team, IST, and FPU partners provide confidence that the system components are working as predicted.
- Results for the "FSim" runs produced in the Large Fire Module show flame lengths and fire sizes consistent with typical and historical fire behavior.
- There are strong relationships between four of the five performance measures.
FPA Web Updates:
What's Next?
- Tell us what's on your mind!. A series “after action review” type of interactions are being planned by the FPA Project for this summer and fall. Now, is the time to begin thinking about your feedback. More to come.
- LANDFIRE Refresh workshops to update the national fuels layers are underway. To participate in the workshops click on the link above or visit: www.LANDFIRE.gov
Short-term Due Dates: The due date for submission of year two analysis is February 1, 2010. These are the tasks and due dates FPUs should be working towards in the short-term to meet the February 1 due date. The project is completing a detailed year two time line and will post to the FPA web site soon.
- May 29, 2009 - Wave 3 FPU boundary changes due (If needed)
- June 1, 2009 - Weather Station changes due (If needed)
- July 1, 2009 - FPUs provide fuel prescription updates for the Large Fire Module
- July 17, 2009 - Fire Workload Area boundary changes due (All FWAs must be run through the FPA FWA QA/QC validation tool. Questions, contact Craig Thompson at: craig_thompson@nps.gov)
- July 26, 2009 - The last day FPUs can do "what if" analysis
- July 27 - August 3, 2009 - FPA system unavailable for analysis runs while data are archived from year one and updates loaded for year two analysis
- August 4, 2009 - FPA system available to start year two analysis
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