FWI Startup Values

[Capt Hook]

I've been going over past posts for the startup values and found some very usefull info and tips but nothing concrete.
I decided to start a long and tedious internet search for the proper values and I think I finally found them.
Starting at NOAA I was led to the USGS and then to CWFIS in Canada (http://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/en/background/bi_FWI_dsm_e.php)
They suggest the following startup values:
FFMC 85
DMC 2X the number of days with no precipitation
DC 5X the number of days with no precipitation
The ISI and the BUI can be obtained from your local forest fire service but I got a lucky break and here in Massachusetts they are just starting up and their startup figures are 20 and 13 respectfully for the ISI and BUI.
Hopes this helps
Mike

[rswhite]

Mike
Also looking for values to calibrate the FWI for the Southwest, here are some sites I've found

http://www.wfas.us/content/view/17/32/

http://gacc.nifc.gov/

http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/fuels_fire-danger/fuels_fire-danger.htm

http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/index.html

Robin

[Capt Hook]

Robin,
   My research took me to most of those pages.
Maybe it's me but can you lead me to where they keep the hard numbers used for startup values for:
FFMC, DMC, DC, ISI and BUI?
I could never find them. I saw the pretty graphics and the best I could decipher they just don't contain the raw numbers needed for initialization.
Thanks in advance for your help

[zeppline]

I am in Las Vegas my current numbers are FFMC 88.2 DMC 31 DC 434 ISI 3.7 BUI 53 My FWI is 10.8 have been running for about 1.5 years hope this helps.  Joe

[rswhite]

Thanks Zeppline

It seems that the United States is mostly using the Byran-Keetch drought index.  I find that i can get the FWI to the values by inputing the Byram-Keetch Index and then hitting update several times to iterate to a value that meets the FWI.

I just do not have the weather history yet.

I will be trying to make contact with the USDA-Forest Service to try to find more about this.

Robin

[evets-md]

Robin.....like you I have only startup wx data so to use your approach, where can I go to get the Byram-Keetch Index numbers for my area?

Thnaks

Steve

[2-Wheeler]

Robin.....like you I have only startup wx data so to use your approach, where can I go to get the Byram-Keetch Index numbers for my area?

Thnaks

Steve

How about here: http://www.fs.fed.us/land/wfas/kbdi.gif

[NorCal Dan]

I just wanted to mention that you can manually set the pointer to the level of your area, low, medium, etc. 

I can't remember if WD will continue to make calculations "as normal" after you set your initial values if you use the manual override function.  Fire season is still a ways off around here.  With all the rain I am considering building a boat   

[Weather Display]

it will continue to calculate it 

[Zalmor]

or

How about here: http://www.fs.fed.us/land/wfas/kbdi.gif

Or for a weekly breakdown for the US

[evets-md]

Michael A......thanks...

Steve

[rswhite]

In looking through the USFS wild fire assessment website found the values for each weather station used.

http://www.fs.fed.us/land/wfas/fdr_obs.dat

If you look on ehte left side of teh main page under weather click on maps.

Not sure what to do with the data yet.

Robin

[labwizard]

Here's a paper I found that I had not seen before.

http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/rn/rn_nc079.pdf

[Krucky]

This may also be of interest.
It is the calculation for the McArthur Mk 5 Forest Fire Danger Index.

http://www.esb.act.gov.au/firebreak/bkdi_df.html

[Zalmor]

Michael A......thanks...

Glad to help out when I can.