June 2008

FPA 2.0 released on June 30, 2008 for use by prototype and early-adopter Fire Planning Units.
A fully tested system remains the foundation for successful deployment of the Fire Program Analysis (FPA) system. On June 30, FPA 2.0 was released on schedule to the seven prototype and 20 early-adopter Fire Planning Units. Release 2.0 includes core functions for data entry, building options and alternatives, running the Initial Response Simulator and Large Fire Module, calculating performance metrics, and generating basic reports.

Phasing in FPA Implementation. FPA 2.0 is currently available only to prototype and early-adopter Fire Planning Units (FPUs) that are testing and evaluating the system. In mid-August, additional FPA functions will be released to the 27 FPUs for rigorous testing. Their feedback will improve system performance and identify software issues before all FPUs use the system. This testing will also provide results for scientific validation by FPA's Interagency Science Team. FPA Project staff will work closely with these 27 FPUs to mentor them through the learning phase and respond to their questions and concerns.

This phased implementation, recommended by both the Project and its Executive Oversight Group, ensures the national release is fully tested and validated prior to use by all 139 FPUs.

The Project anticipates the national release of Version 2.01 sometime between mid- and late-September 2008. Expect more information on specific dates and implementation steps in future newsletters and on the FPA web site.

Getting Started with Data Entry. After hearing feedback from the prototype FPUs, we recommend FPU fire planners use July and August to prepare for data entry. FPUs can work with their partners to gather fire resource information, develop dispatch locations, and identify fuel treatments. The prototype FPUs report the collaborative planning and data gathering process could take up to four weeks, depending on the number of partner agencies in the FPU and the availability/completeness of data. By preparing this information ahead of time, FPUs may reduce data entry time to just a few days.

June 3-5, 2008 Prototype Workshop Results. FPA held a workshop with the prototype FPUs to use their data to develop options and run end-to-end analyses. We expected to run and review the analyses to help us refine reports and review the system outputs before the June 30, 2008 FPA release. During the workshop four prototype FPUs successfully completed IRS runs. One of these FPUs did a Large Fire Module run and calculated performance metrics. All the prototype FPUs are currently completing their end-to-end analyses.

Thank You to the Prototype FPUs!

Their work testing the system helps the FPA Team develop a better product; provides the Interagency Science Team modeling results to review; and helps all FPUs nationwide have an easier-to-use system. We appreciate their continuing support.

Early-adopters to join system testing. Twenty “early-adopter” Fire Planning Units volunteered to join the seven prototype FPUs to test the FPA system after its June 30 release. They will be mentored by FPA Team members in data entry and using the system. The early-adopters are:

Welcome to all the volunteer early-adopter FPUs!

What's Next?

• July 9, 2008 Early-adopter FPUs begin testing FPA Version
• July 1, 2008 prototype FPUs can access FPA Version 2.0.
• Mid- to late-September 2008 all FPUs have full access to FPA Version 2.01