February 2009

Wave 1 and 2 Fire Planning Units (FPUs) should be working on their investment alternatives, while Wave 3 FPUs should be completing the Initial Response Simulator (IRS) validation runs. These validation runs give the FPUs the opportunity to calibrate the IRS module so that it represents local conditions. Please note: When validating the analysis, the validation must be run for 200 hundred years (Fire Event Scenarios).

Remember, when validations are ready for review, completed Technical Review questionnaires should be submitted through the FPA web site e-mail address at: fa_fpa@nifc.blm.gov with a cc to the FPA Geographic Area Lead. Once this is submitted, an FPA team member will be assigned to do the technical review.

FPA Geographic Area Leads should be notified when investment alternatives are ready for submission. Each Geographic Area may have its own process for programmatic reviews before the FPU's alternatives are finalized for inclusion in the national analysis.

FPA's last release on February 27, 2009 included:

• The large fire calibration: Calibrates the size of large fires based on historic data and outcomes of the FPU's .Current analysis.
• The strategic long term fuels function: effects the FPU's performance metrics and shows the strategic benefit of long-term fuel treatments.

FPA Web Updates

• All five federal wildland fire management agency memos revising the analysis due dates are available on the FPA web site.
• The Long Term Fuels Tool has been updated on the FPA web site. The update includes expanded instructions and enhancement that permits a 1-year interval for maintenance fuel treatments
• The Fire Workload Area (FWA)/Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Fuel Model Compositions listed by Geographic Area have been added to the FPA web site. This will be helpful when planning fuel treatments in WUI areas.

Lending a Hand:

Geographic Area Workshops are Complete. The last scheduled workshop will be in Oklahoma beginning March 3 and ending March 5, 2009.

Workshops are not the only place FPUs can get help with their analysis. Interactive webinars can still be scheduled to address specific FPU questions about their analyses. If you would like to schedule and interactive webinar please contact the FPA system Help Desk or your Geographic Area Lead.

Other references include:

1. FPA system helpdesk at fire_help@fs.fed.us or at: 1-800-253-5559.
2. FPA "Quick Start" instruction guide. The Quick Start instruction guide walks FPUs through the initial FPA process with reference and instructional links.
3. Review the FPA White Papers. These papers will describe how the model uses different resources, fuel treatments, or data.
4. FPA User Guide is available on the FPA web site. It walks the user through the system step by step.

What's Next:

Get Ready! We want you to tell us what worked and what can be improved! While most fire planners have their heads down working in the FPA system, the FPA team is beginning to plan for an After Action Review (AAR) of the development, deployment, and implementation of the FPA system.

In April 2006, FPA held its first After Action Review (AAR). Numerous solutions that emerged were considered and incorporated during the development of today's system. A few of these are:

• Developing the FPA list service, this subscription service delivers notices about FPA updates and information directly
  into your in-box.
• Establishing stronger communication lines between FPA Geographic Area Leads, their FPUs, and the FPA team.
• Newly established agency Business Leads to facilitate fire business process and Line Officer involvement.
• FPUs alternative analyses driven by local planners to incorporate land management plan objectives and realistic resource use.
• FPU alternatives are created by FPUs based on land management plans.
• Two FPU prototypes were added that included State participation to evaluate the feasibility and degree of State participation.
• FPA uses corporate and enterprise data sources for model use.

It is time to begin thinking about the feedback that you would like to share about this "learning year".

As the details of the AAR are developed, they will be shared with FPA's Geographic Area Leads and announced in the FPA newsletter.

FPA Short-term Time Line

• April 1, 2009 - Wave 1 and 2 analysis due
• April 15, 2009 - FWA change tool available
• May 1, 2009 - FPU boundary changes due
• May 1, 2009 - Wave 3 analysis due